Grace Tame Responds to Calls for ASIO Investigation Over Protest Chant
Former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, has publicly addressed Senator Pauline Hanson’s assertion that she should be investigated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). The controversy stems from Ms. Tame’s participation in a pro-Palestine demonstration in Sydney, where she reportedly led a chant of “globalise the intifada” during a protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s state visit.
The phrase “globalise the intifada” has become a recurring element in pro-Palestine rallies globally and is often interpreted as anti-Semitic due to its perceived violent connotations. In Australia, the chant has drawn significant attention, with Queensland already implementing a ban, and discussions about a similar prohibition underway in New South Wales.
Senator Hanson took to social media on Tuesday, stating, “Grace Tame’s support of a global intifada should be a terrifying trigger for ASIO and other police agencies to investigate who she’s hanging out with.”
Ms. Tame swiftly responded via her social media channels, stating, “I can tell you now Pauline, I hang out with a bunch of neurospicy sexy queers and culty cyclists.”
This criticism from Senator Hanson follows similar sentiments expressed by One Nation colleague Barnaby Joyce. Mr. Joyce argued that Ms. Tame should be stripped of her Australian of the Year honour for her role in the protest. During the demonstration in Sydney on Monday, Ms. Tame was quoted as saying to the assembled crowds, “We have to continue to mobilise, and we have to continue to globalise. Say it with me, from Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the intifada.”
Mr. Joyce, speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, asserted that Ms. Tame should “100 per cent” lose the award, which she was granted for her significant advocacy work for survivors of sexual assault.
The Weight of an Honour and the Nature of Public Discourse
The former Deputy Prime Minister elaborated on his stance, suggesting that recipients of national honours bear a responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that fosters national harmony. “You have a responsibility when given an honour by the Australian people to basically conduct yourself in a way that inspires the harmonious nature of Australia,” Mr. Joyce stated. He further commented, “We are not … softies, but we have an (egalitarianism), we have a robustness, we have a cheek about us, but we do not inspire this sort of division, this hate. The form of her words, if it’s followed through, brings about the death of people. People will be, on the premise of their, of their religion, of their race, they will be murdered.”
Understanding the Term “Intifada”
The word “intifada” is Arabic for “uprising,” and its historical context is deeply entwined with violence.
- The First Intifada (1987-1990): This period was characterised by widespread Palestinian protests and acts of violence directed at Israelis.
- The Second Intifada (2000-2005): This subsequent uprising was significantly more violent, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,000 Israelis through shootings and suicide bombings. The Israeli military response led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.
Government Concerns Over Divisive Slogans
Beyond political commentary, the use of the “intifada” chant has also raised concerns within the federal government. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tanya Plibersek, expressed her reservations regarding the slogan’s implications. Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, she indicated that the chant runs counter to the principle of a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
“What it means is a single state – a single Palestinian state or a single Israeli state,” Ms. Plibersek explained. “That is a damaging and divisive message. Labor supports a two-state solution. We support a two-state solution with recognised borders that provide safety and security for Israeli people and Palestinian people to live in peace side-by-side. We don’t support slogans or chants or statements that suggest a single state because a single state means pushing the other people out.”
