MP fails in bid to extend antisemitism inquiry and have PM front it
A bid to extend the timeline of the royal commission on antisemitism and have the prime minister front the inquiry has failed to gain traction.
Liberal MP Julian Leeser attempted to extend the antisemitism royal commission and force Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to testify, but his bid was unsuccessful. The inquiry, which is set to conclude public hearings next week, has already received over 20,000 submissions and had more than 220 witnesses testify since May. Commissioner Virginia Bell AC SC is expected to deliver her final report and recommendations by December.
Leeser argued that the current timeline imposed severe constraints on the commission's ability to investigate antisemitism in Australia and that critical players had been left unheard. He called for the government to extend the reporting date, suggesting that December 14 could be better spent remembering victims and comforting the bereaved.
Instead of debating the extension, the House of Representatives motion was adjourned by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who urged all members to respect each other's arguments and focus on addressing antisemitism.
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