Tuesday, 7 October 2025

E&OE

Peter Stefanovic: 

A billboard has been vandalised with antisemitic graffiti in Melbourne's inner-north. The phrase, glory to Hamas, was spray painted above a busy intersection in Fitzroy. Police are now investigating the incident. Well, joining us live, Tim Wilson. And we'd usually be talking about other matters this morning, but this has just come to our attention, Tim. Good to see you, by the way. First of all, what are your thoughts on this as a Victorian? 

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, it's deeply distressing, but it's a reminder that Hamas has won a propaganda war every step of the way. And unfortunately, there are people who look at innocent civilians being used as human shields, as Israeli hostages being held behind enemy lines now for two years. And sadly, some people have been taken in by this propaganda and think it should be inflamed and congratulated when it should condemned resolutely and unapologetically.

Peter Stefanovic:

Is the I mean, we're just trying to get in the mindsets of whoever did this, but is the idea here to keep divisiveness alive here as as peace talks are underway in Egypt right now?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well absolutely, there is some sections sadly of the Australian community who want to sow division to turn hatred towards particularly the Jewish community but to use as a basis to drive broader division within society and to inflame extremism. It's why good people need to stand up and it's one of the tragedies of the past two years. There's been many tragedies, but the biggest tragedy has been a failure of leadership particularly from Canberra and particularly from our State Premier in Victoria where we've seen consistent rise of extremism, they've failed to call it out. And as a consequence, it's created a permissive environment where now many people are fearful for their safety in a community where this has not been the norm in the past.

Peter Stefanovic:

Well, the coincidence for this is that it came just yesterday and even again today with Richard Marles, but Anthony Albanese said today that he didn't want any protests to take place on October 7th, today is October 7, two years after the terror attacks that Hamas committed on Israel, so these folks aren't listening.

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, they're not listening because he lost his moral authority and he lost his moral authority when he didn't stand up against the protests on October 8 2023 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House when people were and there's a conjecture about whether it was "gas the Jews" or "where's the Jews", but whichever one it was, it didn't matter. It should have been condemned. He didn't stand up. He wasn't resolute. And so he lost his moral authority then, it's just continued to cascade since.

Peter Stefanovic:

Well now, there's a push to have another protest, pro-Palestinian protest at the Opera House, perhaps even this Sunday. It's before the courts right now though. 

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, I really hope it doesn't go ahead. And it's not just that I don't hope it goes ahead because I disagree with it. I ultimately believe in free association like everybody else does. I hope it doesn't go ahead because think about the number of lives that have been lost. Think about the families that have been separated. Think about people who have had their children burden alive by Hamas. And do you really think this is something we should be celebrating or congratulating? I mean, this is a sick perversion on humanity, that we think this the sort of thing we should be bringing to national attention or applauding. I hope as Australians we're better than that. I hope, as Australians, we stand up and fight for the type of country we want to be and it's one that's respectful and inclusive and actually stands up for our common humanity, not for this type of division.

Peter Stefanovic:

Okay change of pace now, let's get to some of the issues that are involving the Liberal Party at the moment. So it's been well reported that rising star Andrew Hastie has left the Opposition frontbench. What hasn't been reported much is what he'll be doing now. Here's a few takes on that this morning for those familiar with a far-off galaxy.

'Matt Canavan: I said to him the other day, I think he's going to the Planet Dagobah, like Luke Skywalker, to improve his mind and feats of strength and he'll come back, he'll come back even stronger. That's right! He's got to pull the Liberal Party out of the swamp just by mere sheer willpower.

Jonathon Duniam: Well yes, I'd probably differ from his characterisation of things as a swamp, I'd probably say more bar at Mos Eisley's, but I think what Andrew is doing is, as he has said, focusing on what he thinks our party should be doing and he'll make his contribution from the backbench.'

I'm not sure whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, Tim, but Jonathon's reference to Mos Eisley there, Obi-Wan Kenobi called it a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Is that a bit harsh for the Coalition at the moment?

Tim Wilson MP:

Well, as somebody who's hiding out in the Jedi temple, standing for truth, justice and the Australian way of life, my focus is on Prime Minister Palpatine. We currently have someone who is parading himself out there as though he's on the side of the Australian people, when, in fact, what he's secretly trying to do is take power. He's doing things like abusing Freedom Of Information Legislation, executing orders like Order 66 to take out any of his enemies inside the Labor Party. If I were some of those Labor Party younglings who were elected at this election, I'd be very cautious about crossing Prime Minister Palpatine because he's coming to get you.

Peter Stefanovic:

Alright, you are well versed on matters Star Wars, Tim. On a serious note though, isn't it better to have Hastie on the frontbench rather than the backbench?

Tim Wilson MP:

We want people who are willing and keen to serve. And Andrew has made a decision, he's going to go off and write a book is what I read. I wrote a book when I was last in office, I was able to do that while prosecuting campaigns against the Labor Party. I hope he would do the same. But the key objective is we want people who are going to stand up, fight for the future of our country, because liberalism comes alive and we're standing up for, not just for the values we believe in, but the Australians we believe in. We need a liberal awakening in this country that stands up for the type of nation we want to be, that's strong, that's prosperous, that's full of hope and that's what I'm going to be fighting for.

Peter Stefanovic:

Good to talk to you, Tim. Well done. We'll talk to you soon.

ENDS