Albanese's Social Cohesion Plan Is Not Going Well

The Government can't find a special envoy on Islamophobia, and the special enjoy on anti-Semitism is reporting to the wrong person

Tony Burke

Anthony Albanese’s plan to help social cohesion by appointing special envoys on anti-Semitism as well as on Islamophobia is not going well.

In fact, his insistence on balancing the two has only served to highlight the fact that anti-Semitism is a bigger problem than he admits.

As for Islamophobia, well in a strange twist of irony, his plan is demonstrating that Islamophobia might not be so irrational after all.

The PM was quick to appoint a special enjoy on anti-Semitism. That was the easy part. The Government was spoilt for choice when it came to smart, articulate Jewish community members who could legitimately and authentically speak for peace.

But finding a special envoy on Islamophobia … well, that’s been a bit more of a challenge.

According to a report in The Australian, the PM’s team have - to this - point been unable to find a Muslim leader who is willing to condemn, without equivocation, the October 7 slaughter of Israelis by Hamas.

In other words, so far all the possible enjoys on Islamophobia are too busy marching through our capital cities chanting “From the river to the sea …” to help with social cohesion.

Awkward.

An envoy on Islamophobia who won’t condemn the October 7 attack is unacceptable to the government.

But an envoy on Islamophobia who will condemn the October 7 attack is unacceptable to the Muslim community

Oh what a tangled web Handsome Boy weaves when he’s too gutless to exercise moral clarity and so instead pretends ….