CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Dr RYAN (Kooyong) (16:00): I would like to share with the House part of a letter from a Kooyong constituent regarding her experiences as a Jewish Australian, which are particularly pertinent in light of tonight's 2026 census. She wrote to me: Never state you're Jewish on the Census form,' our parents said, 'because they'll already know where you live.' The danger my parents perceived from being too easily identified as Jews wasn't a form of paranoia; it was a considered position, based on their experience of Australian society.

In first grade, I was invited to the home of a playmate, who lived around the corner. 'I didn't realise you were Jewish when I asked you over to play,' her mother said on my way out. 'I don't really like Jewish people,' she said. Once I was old enough to understand what had happened to Jews during World War II, I tended to divide people into whether I thought they would have tried to help me escape the Nazis, or not.

I do not divulge my Jewish identity at all except in a situation where I felt safe or it was necessary for me to make a point. While I have absolutely no doubt that the expression of antisemitism has increased since October 7, antisemitism has always been present in Australia. The bravest of us is our younger daughter.

After the massacre at Bondi, she asked to work from home for a few days, without giving a reason. She couldn't endure having to hear sweeping statements about 'either side'. Is there another side to the Bondi massacre?

For well over a year, she was not 'out' as a Jew at work. 'Don't bother feeling sorry for me!' she said to her boss. 'Feel sorry for the thousands of Palestinian civilians and children killed and injured by Israeli troops.' 'Oh!' he said, 'I didn't realise you're Jewish.' 'Well, I am,' she replied. I rise to speak about this today because I think it's incredibly important that all Australians bear witness to the entrenched bias and the systemic racism within our communities, of which many of us are often unaware.

Tonight, as Australians decide whether or not to denominate their religion on the census form, I think it's important that we all reflect on why that question is not simple for all Australians and that we work together over the next few years, prior to the next census, to ensure that the sorts of questions that my constituent has raised in her very moving letter are considered by all of us in determining how we deal with our fellow Australians and how we respect everybody's identity.