EXCLUSIVE
Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal — whose family bankrolls far-right political lobby group “Advance” — has misled the Senate over her failure to denounce last month’s NSW Parliament House neo-Nazi rally.
Under questioning at Senate estimates, Segal — who has repeatedly publicly condemned pro-Palestinian demonstrations — said she did not publish any statement over the November 7 neo-Nazi rally.
Instead, Segal said, she had conveyed her “condemnation” to those media outlets “who approached me”.
“I did convey that to news outlets that did contact my office,” Segal told Senate estimates last week.
“I did convey that to news outlets that did contact my office” — Jillian Segal
This is false.
The Klaxon approached Segal and her office on November 9, in writing, expressly asking: “As Australia’s Antisemitism Envoy, do you denounce the neo-Nazi rally at the weekend?”
We received no response.
We approached Segal and her office again on November 27, again asking whether she denounced the neo-Nazi rally.
Again we received no response.
The Klaxon’s report on November 27, three weeks after the neo-Nazi rally. Source: The Klaxon
By law, people who give “false or misleading” evidence to a Senate committee can face financial penalties or jail time.
Segal is paid over $1,000 a day in a position costing taxpayers over $1 million a year.
As Antisemitism Envoy, Segal is required to support efforts to support “efforts to address systemic and interpersonal racism”, including “hate speech”, through “engaging in media opportunities”.
Refused to respond: Questions The Klaxon put to Segal on November 7 and again on November 27.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge told Senate estimates he could find no record of Segal having made any statement on the November 7 neo-Nazi rally.
“As Australia’s Antisemitism Envoy, do you denounce the neo-Nazi rally at the weekend?” — The Klaxon to Segal and her office on November 9 and November 27
Segal refused to respond when asked by The Klaxon last week which “media outlets” she had provided responses to.
“This is a pattern here,” Senator David Shoebridge told The Klaxon Friday.
“There was no public statement when neo-Nazis rallied earlier in the year in Melbourne, and now silence again after this appalling rally in Sydney.
“This is a pattern here,” Senator David Shoebridge told The Klaxon
In September The Klaxon reported Segal remained silent on the “March for Australia” August 31 rallies, which were marred by neo-Nazis and violence.
Please consider supporting our vital work here.
Segal was also silent on the neo-Nazi activities at the March for Australia anti-immigration rallies on August 31. Source: The Klaxon
Two days before the rallies, far-right group “Advance” sent out an an attack missive to tens of thousands of supporters, stating “immigration” is a “threat to our standard of living” and “our culture”.
As previously reported, Segal’s family trust was the tied-second biggest funder of Advance in 2023-24 — the latest data — giving it $50,000 in the year.
Segal has refused to provide any meaningful explanation, beyond issuing a vague, two-sentence statement suggesting her husband was responsible.
As revealed by The Klaxon, Segal is — and has at all times since being appointed Antisemitism Envoy in July 2024 — a top executive of pro-Israel lobby group the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).
Antisemitism Envoy and ECAJ executive Jillian Segal, with fellow ECAJ executive Alex Ryvchin. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP
Segal has publicly called for pro-Palestine demonstrations to be banned from the nation’s inner cities.
The November 7 neo-Nazi demonstration was held outside NSW Parliament House, on Macquarie Street, in Sydney’s CBD.
The rally occurred in highly unusual circumstances and many unanswered questions remain.
It was officially approved by NSW Police.
The NSW Minns Government then, almost immediately, used the fact that the rally had been approved as a reason to give NSW Police more powers.
Around 60 black-clad men stood beside a banner stating “Abolish the Jewish Lobby”.
Senator Shoebridge posts to social media last week. Source: Twitter/X
At Senate estimates last week, Shoebridge said the “appalling” NSW Parliament House rally had been “one of the most high-profile, obscene public outings of the neo-Nazi movement”.
“I have been looking online to see at any point where you condemned that Neo-Nazi rally outside the NSW Parliament,” he said, addressing Segal.
“I looked for a clear public statement from you condemning that neo-Nazi rally and questioning why police permitted it.
“I can’t find one,” Shoebridge said.
Segal responded: “I did convey to various news outlets who asked—those who approached me—a condemnation. I had a statement prepared.
“I did convey to various news outlets who asked—those who approached me—a condemnation” – Jillian Segal
“I did not put out a press statement. I note that perhaps I should have to make it clear.
“I did convey that to news outlets that did contact my office. I can’t explain why you could not find anything,” Segal said.
“I can’t explain why you could not find anything” — Jillian Segal
Shoebridge asked Segal: “Can you explain how the Antisemitism envoy didn’t put out a clear unambiguous public statement condemning a high-profile Neo-Nazi rally out the front of the New South Wales Parliament House? How could you not have?
“How could you not have?” — Senator Shoebridge
Segal responded : “I take your point”.
She continued: “I say that I do absolutely condemn it. I think the activities of the National Socialists are contemptible.
“History has taught us at a terrible cost that silence is absolutely not the right way,” Segal said.
“History has taught us at a terrible cost that silence is absolutely not the right way” — Jillian Segal
“I have spoken to media, condemning it. I take your point. Perhaps there should have been a broader statement. I chose to do it through individual media responses”.
“I have spoken to media…I chose to do it through individual media responses” — Jillian Segal
Segal’s “terms of reference” include her “engaging in media opportunities”. Source: Australian Government
Segal told the committee that “I was initially, I might say, reluctant to give them (neo-Nazis) more air play, but I take your point because they do crave notoriety”.
“Advance” is one of the most active spreaders of anti-immigrant hate material in the nation, aggressively spreading racist tropes and bigoted imagery.
The Klaxon’s July 12 expose. Source: The Klaxon
Shoebridge asked whether Segal had “sought to have a meeting with NSW Police” to “work out how on earth they signed off on a neo-Nazi rally”?
She had not.
“I haven’t sought a specific meeting on that topic,” Segal responded.
Segal did not state which topics she had discussed with NSW Police, although she said she did “meet with them from time to time”.
Segal did not state when she last met, or held discussions, with NSW Police.
Nine Jewish organisations have labelled Segal’s report an attack on Australia’s freedoms and democracy, benefiting the state of Israel. Source: The Klaxon
Segal has previously refused to comment when asked by The Klaxon whether she was lobbying the Federal Government or state governments behind-the-scenes.
Legal experts and advocacy groups say the NSW Government is undermining Australia’s hard-fought freedoms and “eroding” the right to protest.
At Senate Estimates last week Segal praised the NSW Government’s push for more speech laws, which had been “very quick”.
“Government itself has responded with very strong new legislation,” Segal said.
“I welcome that. I have welcomed that”.
Truly independent quality journalism is vital to defending our democracy and hard-fought freedoms.
Your support is essential to our existence.
Please consider supporting us for as little as $10 a month, or by making a one-off donation of any amount here.
(You can also support us via PayPal, or by making a direct deposit.)
Thank you,
Anthony Klan
Editor, The Klaxon
