We welcome the Australian Press Council’s ruling that the publication failed to take reasonable steps to avoid causing substantial offence, distress or prejudice. 

The cartoon not only relied on imagery echoing long-standing antisemitic tropes, it also diminished the broad and genuine support for a Royal Commission – across the board from sports people, political leaders and the legal and medical professions – by implying that Australians calling for an inquiry were being manipulated. 

The Council has rightly recognised that the cartoon crossed a line and reinforced harmful stereotypes that have fuelled hatred against Jewish people.