Special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal.Credit: Dylan Coker
The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) has called for the resignation of antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal after it was revealed that a trust her husband is director of had donated to controversial conservative lobby group Advance Australia.
There is no suggestion that Segal was aware of a donation or that it has affected her work.
The LMA, one of the most influential Muslim bodies in Australia, said in a statement that Segal’s position had become “untenable” and that “Australians are expected to manage conflicts of interest far less direct than this”.
“This isn’t about dictating a spouse’s politics. It’s about credibility, accountability and public trust,” the association said.
“Segal cannot credibly lead efforts against antisemitism while remaining silent about – or benefiting from – the funding of organisations that fuel other forms of racism and bigotry.”
Donation disclosures filed with the Australian Electoral Commission by a company where Segal’s husband, John Roth, serves as a director, showed the Roth family trust, Henroth, contributed $50,000 to Advance during the 2023-24 financial year.
Advance Australia has previously claimed that Labor is effectively backed by the Chinese Communist Party, described teal independents as covert Greens, and alleged that progressive politicians are “mostly on the same side as Hamas”.
Segal has distanced herself from the donation, saying in a statement that she had “no involvement”.
“No one would tolerate or accept my husband dictating my politics, and I certainly won’t dictate his,” she said. “I have had no involvement in his donations, nor will I.”
Read the full article here
