When Jillian Segal AO took up the anti-Semitism envoy role in July this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the appointment a “critical step” on the way to easing the tensions playing out in Australia as a result of the war in Gaza.

But more than two months on, the promised Islamophobia equivalent hasn’t been appointed, leading to concern within some influential parts of the Islamic community.

The Australian National Imams Council’s Bilal Rauf has labelled the delay “very disappointing and concerning” and has called for urgent action.

“I think it needs to occur this month, in the matter of a week or two,” he said.

“Any longer than that, it almost does become farcical, and one begins to question: ‘what’s the point?’.”

As the weeks without an Islamophobia envoy roll on, he said there’s a growing sense of scepticism and disappointment within parts of the community.

“We’re hearing of wonderful progress being made and steps being taken by the anti-Semitism [envoy] engaging with different departments and organisations, and yet nothing has happened in the space of Islamophobia,” Mr Rauf said.

“Some of the questions that we are getting on the ground are: Is this legitimate? Is there a real intent, or is this just a show?”

Candidates speak out

Chief executive of the Islamic College of Brisbane, Ali Kadri, said he was approached by the government in relation to the Islamophobia envoy position “about a month” ago.

He decided against taking the full-time role due to his current responsibilities, but said he had a candid conversation with Multicultural Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

“He asked me for my opinion and my opinion was, and it still remains, that this can’t be seen as some bureaucratic government role,” he said.

“If anyone who takes that position does not engage at the grassroots with the wider community and within Muslim community, then that position will not be effective in countering Islamophobia.”

Mr Kadri expressed disappointment that the appointment process had taken so long and said it should be finalised “as soon as possible”, but added that finding the right candidate would not be easy for the federal government.

“The anti-Semitism envoy was appointed quite quickly and swiftly,” he said. “The Muslim community is a lot more complex.”

Western Sydney general practitioner Jamal Rifi put his name forward for the role and met with government representatives, but pulled out of the running due to a change in circumstances.

Dr Rifi isn’t confident one person will be able to win the support of Australia’s large and diverse Muslim community but he’s pleased the position is being created.

“The impact is not going to come from the envoy himself or herself. It’s going to come from the community,” he said.

“But the envoy will have a role to play, providing facts and statistics, so the community and the government can respond in their own specific way.”

With the issues of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism highlighted in the wake of the conflict in Gaza, Dr Rifi said it was right for there to be allocated positions to counter their rise.

“It’s proper for the government to quantify it, study it, analyse it, and find ways to combat it, because [we] will be a better nation for doing so.”

‘Soon’, ‘shortly’, ‘imminent’ — but when?

In early July, the Albanese government said the appointment of the Islamophobia envoy would be announced “shortly”.

Since then variations of that word have been used to signal an announcement was imminent, but no specific time frame has been set.

Meanwhile, the anti-Semitism envoy’s work is underway. On Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Segal appeared before a Senate committee to call for a judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian universities.

She told the inquiry that anti-Semitism was “embedded” in campuses and that it was her view that this was not fully understood by management.

“They do not appreciate the extent of the difficulty, they don’t appreciate the extent of the embedded anti-Semitism,” she said.

Mr Rauf said the appointment of an Islamophobia envoy needed to be prioritised by the government.

“It is absolutely critical and urgent that steps are taken very soon to appoint someone, in circumstances where this was announced months ago, and the anti-Semitism envoy is well underway and established and already doing things,” he said.

When asked if a shortlist had been finalised and when an appointment would be made, a spokesperson for Tony Burke said “consultation on the appointment continues”.

“The rise of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism is of grave concern to this government,” the statement read.

Source: ABC News