Australia has a deep bond with Israel. They are our natural partner in pursuit of justice in the world. What is good for our shared ambitions abroad must be matched at home and lived.
Full speech
Mr TIM WILSON (Goldstein) (13:47): It’s time Malka Leifer faced justice. Two days after being dismissed by the board of Adass Israel School in Elsternwick, in 2008, Leifer left Australia. Five years later, she was charged with 74 offences of sexual assault related to inappropriate relationships with her pupils in Australia. In 2014, we rightly requested her extradition from Israel to face these charges. Despite being heard nearly 60 times in Israeli courts, this request has not been met five years on. Leifer must face these allegations here in our country. Prolonging a wrong continues the trauma for those in Melbourne’s Jewish community. Dassi and Nicole, and others, deserve justice.
I, too, endorse the comments of Israel’s ambassador to Australia. This case has gone on for far too long and nothing short of full justice can be accepted. Australia has a deep bond with Israel. They are our natural partner in pursuit of justice in the world. What is good for our shared ambitions abroad must be matched at home and lived. Australia has been tolerant in letting the wheels of Israeli justice turn slowly. No longer. Time’s up. Bring Leifer here.