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tell a friendAustralia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard is facing a backlash from part of the country’s Jewish population of 107,000 following her announcement of election on September 14, which also is Yom Kippur.
Jewish legislator Michael Danby said Labor must allow special voting arrangements for Jews or lose support from voters, the Australian “news.com” website reported.
“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,” Danby said in a statement. “I hope my constituents will respect my consistency in this matter just as I try to be consistent in others.”
He said he is negotiating with a government minister “to ensure arrangements for the fullest participation of the Australian Jewish Community in our Australian democratic process. This will mean extra attention to postal voting and particularly pre-polling” in areas with a heavy Jewish population.
Liberal party Member of Parliament Josh Frydenberg wrote on Twitter that the election timing: “disenfranchises many Jewish Australians and is incredibly sloppy work.”
However, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, director Peter Wertheim told the news website, “To be absolutely truthful it is not a major issue for us, because every election takes place on the Jewish Sabbath.”
Special arrangements allow Orthodox Jewish voters to vote through the mail or at polls before election day.
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As long as there are arrangements for early voting, what is the problem?
Shows complete indifference and lack of sensitivity, Certainly no election would be called onFootball Finals Day, Easter nor Muslim holy day.
This is an absolutely stupid article that is full of half truths and misrepresentations. Australian Feberal elections have always been held on a Saturday (Shabbat). There is no disenfranchisement as many Australian Jewish leaders have pointed out. There has always been Absent Voting (postal voting), which many will utilise (not just Jews). And those areas that have high Jewish populations will invaribly have early voting. Voting in Australia is compulsory, therefore the Australian Electoral Commission makes our obligation to vote very easy.
yes, Mr Dandy take note