Labor back at square one on Islamophobia envoy as Greens dismiss 'token' role
Anthony Albanese said more than two months ago that Australia’s first Islamophobia envoy would be announced shortly.
Labor has gone back to the drawing board in its long-running search for an Islamophobia envoy, as the Greens call for the position to be scrapped altogether.
More than two months ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared the appointment would be made “shortly” as he unveiled Jillian Segal as Australia’s envoy on antisemitism. The government then approached at least five individuals over the following weeks, but all of them either pulled out of the process or were deemed unsuitable.
Labor’s search has been criticised as superficial by influential community leaders, who have complained that consultation has been minimal. That prompted fears the role would be tokenistic, with the government installing a favourable candidate as it seeks to head off anger over its stance on Gaza.
But two sources with knowledge of the process say that has begun to change under new Immigration Minister Tony Burke, who is actively reaching out to the community for their advice. And in a rarity since the search began, the government is not narrowing in on a single candidate.
