WHAT HAPPENED

People in the electorate of Goldsten who have corflutes (posters) showing support for Zoe Daniel MP (Independent, Teals) received an anonymous letter caliming to be from “Your Jewish Neighbour” accusing them of antisemitism and of igniting fear in Holocaust survivors by reminding them of Nazi Germany.

FACT CHECK

There is nothing about the corflutes at all reminicent of Nazi Germany. Not in contents, not in design, not in colour. Nor is Zoe Daniels a candidate with an antisemitic history, nor is she representing an antisemitic party. The statements in the letter are absolutely baseless.

BACKGROUND BEFORE THIS INCIDENT

This incident follows a campaign of intimidation in Jewish groups on Facebook in which those supporting non-Liberal candidates have been verbally attacked, called Kapos (the term for prisoners who with supervisory roles supporting the Nazis in the camps), and in one case were told they would regret their choice “when we are all walking to the gass chambers”.

I wrote to Senator James Paterson (Liberal) on April 21st saying “I am deeply concerned with the tactics that some Liberal Party activists are using with respect to the Jewish community.” I explained the behavior and that it was “not the sort of debate that leads to a more informed electorate, it is simply bullying and harassment.”

Senator Paterson responded within 30 minutes saying “The conduct you have described is completely and utterly unacceptable whoever is engaging in it. I will take the opportunity to re-iterate the high expectations we have of anyone connected to our campaign, including volunteers.”

THE LETTER

Hello Neighbour.

We have taken an unprecedented decision to write to you. As (one) of your Jewish neighbours, we thought it pertinent to make you aware of how uncomfortable we are with your support of Daniels [sic]. For us it has made us aware of how many in our community are antisemetic.

We do not know whether this is something you take ownership of, or, as with many, seek to use linguistic of other semantics to try justifying your position and own mental gymnastics rather than take ownership of who you are or what you have become.
Our parents (and grandparents) have openly shared that it is reminiscent of early Germany and their neighbours hanging signs – many, likewise, trying to justify their positions as not being “antisemitic” and hating Jews.

Please understand that whatever linguistic arguments you put forward to put your own conscience at ease, the fact that you and those like you are evoking these feelings in your Jewish neighbours (and our community as a whole) is antisemitic – irrespective of how you justify it.

Seeing the signs (and those of certain other parties such as the Greens) abundant has many (dare I even suggest the majority) of the Jewish community actively considering our future in Victoria, and Australia. Many of us are now actively considering alternatives.

Now we understand that if you are one of those that takes ownership of your antisemetic views this might be music to your ears. Alternatively, if you’re one who continues to try to justify your position, you may continue to undertake mental gymnastics. If you are the latter, please understand our fear, discomfort and active considerations about our future and that you are, as in Germany, an active participant in our decisions to uproot our families and leave.

We do not intend to change your political views. We are in no way aligned to any political party (though you and others in the neighbourhood’s open support has many of us taking an active role in the current election rather than sitting back or in many cases “donkey voting” in the past. For us this is an existential election for the future of Jews in Australia).

Our sole reason for writing this note and drawing your attention is to make you aware of our discomfort as neighbours and the fear it is evoking in our community -especially for those of us, like our parents and grandparents, who experienced Germany in the early 1930s-40s and find the political campaign signs evoking the same feelings in them. The fear.

We are not writing as designated spokesperson of the Jewish community, rather as noted above as one of your neighbours (you may know who we are, but due to our fear, we have not noted our house address or our names). If you know who we are, feel free to discuss our fears with us.

Please understand that for us the abundance of teal support in the neighbourhood makes us feel very unwelcome, not only in the neighbourhood but in Victoria and Australia at present.

Please also understand that irrespective of any mental justification, you are antisemitic and actively a participant in the way Jews are feeling at present.

Your Jewish Neighbour (our personal message to you as a neighbour).

ANTISEMITISM

This letter is a form of Holocaust distortion and specifically Holocaust trivialisation. It is an abuse of Holocaust survivors. It undermines the fight against antisemitism making absolutely absurd claims of antisemitism.

THE LAW

The letter claimed it is from Jewish people who are not affiliated with any party or orgnaisation, this is a bald assertion and there is no evidence either way. This is however irrelevant as this isn’t campaigning, it is unlawful election interference.

The letter undermines democracy by seeking to intimidate people engaging in perfectly reasonable political speech. This is a crime under Section 327 of the Electoral Act 1918 (Cth). As explained in Hudson v Entsch [2005] FCA 460, it is a breach of S 327 to interfer with someone’s “right to support or oppose a candidate, group of candidates or party”. See more at the Australian Electoral Commission.

The Australian Electoral Commission have said they are investigating. With multiple letters delivered, hopefully there is CC TV footage.

SOURCES

• Raf Epstein (presenter), “‘Upsetting’ anonymous letters accuse teal supporters of antisemitism”, ABC Melbourne (radio), 29 April 2025.
• Cara Waters, “Zoe Daniel supporters sent anonymous letters accusing them of being antisemitic and hating Jews”, The Age, 29 April 2025 at 2.04pm. (archived)

Disclaimer

This article was written by Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute. The Online Hate Prevention Institute is an Australian Charity and political non-partisan.