Thousands Demand Grace Tame Be Stripped of Australian of the Year Honour
More than 25,000 Australians have signed a petition calling for Grace Tame to be stripped of her 2021 Australian of the Year title. The demand follows her controversial chant of "globalise the intifada" during a Sydney rally protesting Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit this week.
Controversial Rally Sparks National Outrage
The 31-year-old activist used the phrase "intifada" and delivered anti-Israel rhetoric during her speech at Monday's Sydney demonstration. The rally subsequently erupted into clashes between protesters and police, drawing heavy criticism from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dodged questions in Parliament on Tuesday about whether he would publicly condemn Tame's remarks. The petition, launched by Rebel News, has gained significant traction, with signatures surpassing 25,000 and continuing to climb.
Petition Calls for Criminal Investigation
The petition not only demands Tame's honour be revoked but also calls for authorities to charge her with alleged criminal incitement to violence under existing Australian law. Organisers argue that "we do not need new 'hate speech' laws" if current legislation can address the situation.
"In 2021, Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year, an honour reserved for individuals who reflect the values, unity and integrity of our nation," the petition states. "That title carries moral weight. It is not just recognition for past advocacy, it represents an ongoing association with Australian ideals."
Historical Context and Community Impact
The petition specifically objects to Tame leading the rally with the chant "from Gadigal Aboriginal name for Sydney to Gaza, globalise the intifada." Organisers note that "the term intifada is historically associated with violent uprisings and armed conflict."
"Its use in Australia, particularly when amplified by a former national honouree, has caused profound distress within the Jewish community and concern across the broader public," the document continues. "This occurred in a climate already charged with fear and trauma, including in the wake of the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack."
Balancing Free Speech and Responsibility
The petition emphasises that its purpose is "about responsibility" rather than "silencing debate." It acknowledges that "Australians have the right to protest. Australians have the right to criticise foreign governments. Australians have the right to speak freely."
However, it adds a crucial caveat: "But no one, regardless of status, has the right to incite violence. When a nationally recognised figure calls to 'globalise the intifada' it is not unreasonable for Australians to question whether that crosses the line from political expression into incitement."
The document argues that "if ordinary citizens made comparable remarks encouraging globalised uprising, authorities would act. Public prominence should not provide immunity."
National Honour as Unifying Symbol
The petition contends that Tame's "honour must be revoked" because the Australian of the Year award is "meant to unite, not divide." It describes the honour as symbolising "respect for community harmony, leadership that uplifts rather than inflames and values that Australians across backgrounds can stand behind."
"When a former recipient engages in rhetoric that many Australians interpret as legitimising violent struggle, it undermines public trust in the integrity of that honour," the petition states. "Removing or reviewing an award in light of serious misconduct is not unprecedented. National honours are privileges, not entitlements."
Political Reactions and Social Media Backlash
Tens of thousands of Australians have supported the petition, with many expressing their frustrations on social media platforms. One commenter questioned: "I'd like an official investigation as to why she has not been charged under our hate speech laws?" Another declared they would sign because Tame "disgraced the position," while a third suggested changing her title to "Anti-Australian of the decade."
Newly elected federal opposition leader Angus Taylor told Sky News that Albanese should "condemn" Tame's language. "I condemn a Prime Minister who cannot call out people who are calling for violence," Taylor stated. "'Globalise the intifada' is a call for violence, and this Prime Minister could not condemn it. That is true."
Police Response and Leadership Questions
Taylor stopped short of calling for Tame's honour to be revoked, instead focusing on the Prime Minister's response. "Well, I think what should happen is that this Prime Minister should start by condemning that language," he said. "It is unacceptable, the way we deal with people making calls that are not consistent with our way of life is that we start by condemning them."
The opposition leader added: "And if the Prime Minister can't even do that, it shows that he has not got the leadership capacity. He doesn't have the moral clarity. He doesn't have an understanding of right and wrong, which I think is important in a leader of this nation."
Taylor praised police at Monday's rally for doing a "tough job in these circumstances" after video emerged showing NSW police allegedly moving on Muslims while they prayed. "These were protests where we heard people calling for violence. 'Globalise the intifada' is a call for violence. Let's be clear about that," Taylor told Sky News.
Tame's Defence and Counter-Arguments
Grace Tame shared her response to the criticism in a video on Wednesday afternoon, following a written statement about rally coverage released on Tuesday. "This is not the first time I've been made a villain for speaking out," she wrote alongside Wednesday's video. "It is, however, the first time I've been cast in a worse light than a criminal state."
She added: "In the pursuit of justice, proportion, fairness, and truth, I refuse to be silent." In her video, Tame directed critics to watch an Al Jazeera investigation about ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza, which allegedly deployed US-made bombs.
"Our political and media classes are trying to distract the masses by focusing on words that I said at a peaceful protest on Monday night in Sydney," she argued. "Disingenuously distorting definitions has been a cornerstone of Israel's propaganda strategy for decades."
Tame concluded: "Choosing to put a negative spin on the word intifada, which literally means shaking off, is just another example of that."
