Poll date dismay
ALL three Jewish members of federal Parliament have confirmed they intend to attend synagogue on election day, which this year coincides with Yom Kippur.
ALL three Jewish members of federal Parliament have confirmed they intend to attend synagogue on election day, which this year coincides with Yom Kippur.
In an unusual move, PM Julia Gillard last week set the election date seven-and-a-half months in advance for September 14.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Danny Lamm said the choice of date was unfortunate.
“It certainly creates a problem for those Jewish supporters of parties and candidates who would have wished to be active at polling booths on election day and who will feel conflicted and unable to do so,” he said. “Further it may affect Jewish candidates who will be unable to campaign on election day.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director Colin Rubenstein said his organisation had received messages “from Australians from many religious and cultural backgrounds saying that it is regrettable that this date was chosen”.
“[It] is of course somewhat disappointing, especially for those members of our community – be they politicians, political party members, campaign workers … – who won’t be able to engage on election day as they normally would,” he said.
“However, as always, everyone will have the option provided by pre-polling and postal voting to exercise their democratic right.”
Melbourne Ports Labor MP Michael Danby said: “As a matter of personal conscience I will be unable to participate on election day. It is my practice, with my wife Amanda, to observe Yom Kippur.”
He said he had made a special request for an additional early voting centre to be set up in his electorate.
“With Yom Kippur coinciding, I expect many more, like me, will want to observe the special day in our calendar,” he said.
A spokesperson for Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said “his priority for the day will be attending synagogue as he does every year”.
Kooyong Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg said on the day he expected to attend Caulfield shul, where he is a member. “I am just disappointed [about the date]. I think we should respect the High Holy Days of all religions,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister declined to elaborate on internal discussions relating to the choice of date but said: “Australia has a flexible, resilient and reliable voting system. The Australian Electoral Commission has well-established procedures, including pre-poll and postal voting, to ensure all voters can cast their ballot in federal elections.
“Many members of the Jewish community have long utilised them, given all federal elections are held on Saturdays. … voters now have seven months’ notice.”
GARETH NARUNSKY
Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
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