Liberal MP Julian Leeser has called on the government to stand up to anti-Semitism following a 'shocking' incident where an Officeworks worker refused to serve a Jewish customer on the basis that she was pro-Palestine and felt uncomfortable about his request.
The shock footage of an Officeworks employee refusing service to a Jewish man has led a prominent Federal MP to demand an urgent and strong response from the government as he declares the chain's CEO should"hang his head in shame".
Mr Leeser, who is a Jewish Australian, blasted the incident as a “shocking example” of the widespread antisemitism in the country since Hamas’ October 7 attacks and said too often the issue was being unaddressed. “This isn't government policy, but if it's Officeworks policy, the Officeworks CEO should hang his head in shame.
“Too often we see anti-Semitism in this country unanswered by leaders in positions of authority. Where's the Victorian Human Rights Commission? Where is the Australian Human Rights Commission?" Officeworks' managing director Sarah Hunter confirmed in a statement the matter had been taken “extremely seriously” and the stationery chain has “investigated internally and taken the appropriate action to ensure this doesn’t take place again”.
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