Interview with Karl Stefanovic, The Today Show, Channel Nine
KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Sydney protests opposing the Israeli president's state visit descended into chaos on Monday evening. There are the shots right there. Police forced to pepper spray and arrest dozens of activists. Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth and Independent MP Allegra Spender join me now to discuss. Amanda, good morning to you first up. How's the unity thing going for you and your Government?
AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS: Well look, of course people have a right to protest but it has to be done peacefully and it has to be done respectful way. I've only seen a couple of clips, and these are not the type of scenes that we want to see. We do want people to come together. And I think what's important in all of this is remembering that the visit of the President of Israel is about mourning and remembering the lives of 15 people that died at Bondi. We can't lose sight of that.
KARL STEFANOVIC: You knew there'd be violence, though, and it was like a moth to the flame.
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, we need to be able in this country to disagree respectfully. And everyone's got to look at their own selves in this. People do have a right to protest. It's a really important right, but it must be done respectfully and it must be done peacefully. And I would urge everyone to consider that when they want to express their views.
KARL STEFANOVIC: Allegra, it's clear some protesters came spoiling for a fight by their language and actions.
ALLEGRA SPENDER, INDEPENDENT MP: Look, I think that you know, and I agree very much with Amanda, that people have the right to protest, but how you do it really matters at the moment. And particularly, you know, given what this visit is about, you know, I know people feel very, very strongly about Israel and Hamas and Gaza and what has happened there. But we also have responsibility, all of us, to this country and to each other. And I think this has got to be about, you know, doing things in a respectful way. We don’t need more conflict here. I think these images would have disturbed a lot of Australians this morning. And no one wants to see this sort of stuff on our streets.
KARL STEFANOVIC: Well, I mean, that's 100 per cent right. We had the briefest of reprieves, didn't we, after Bondi. And the peace that Australians so badly want on our streets, Allegra, is gone. How does that make the Bondi community feel?
ALLEGA SPENDER: Look, I think, and I think a lot of Australians, and Bondi included, will be really disturbed by these images. but I think through this visit and I think this visit will you know, it's going to finish in a few days. I think we still can come back to what brought us together. I spent a lot of time in in Bondi in the last few weeks, and what people keep on saying to me is it is the community there coming together, looking out for each other and sharing each other. That's the best of this this country. And we've got to hold on to that. That's the most important part, really.
KARL STEFANOVIC: I don't know. I mean, look, it might get worse in Melbourne. Who knows? Amanda, people like Grace Tame calling to the crowd to globalise the Intifada. Do you think that should be illegal?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, firstly, I would say that is completely distressing. Those types of statements are completely distressing to many people and should not be thrown around willy-nilly without understanding the very deep hurt that that can cause. In terms of, you know, any legal action, that's a matter for the courts. But this is a time, I think, that we need to recognise that we don't want overseas conflicts brought here to Australia. It's very important to recognise you can have opinions, you can debate, but we don't want that conflict here in Australia. And that is, I think, what the vast majority of Australians want. And I think, to be fair, people causing this chaos and disruption is a minority. The vast majority of Australians do not want this type of overseas conflict brought here to Australia.
KARL STEFANOVIC: There's still an undercurrent, though. You can see it. You can hear it. You can feel it in the crowds last night, this tension, this quest for perpetrating violence. It's there. Look at it. So how are you actually going to ease it?
AMANDA RISHWORTH: I think it's important that people come together. As I said, this is a very small minority. When I'm in my communities, people do want to come together. They want to recognise that we can have differences and we can bring people together. Social media companies have a responsibility. But we all need to work together and everyone has a responsibility to be respectful and to disagree respectfully.
KARL STEFANOVIC: Alright, ladies, appreciate it. It was a disgrace what happened last night, unfortunately, and I have a feeling it's going to continue. Thanks very much.
[ENDS]