From left: JBD president David Ossip, Mark Speakman SC MP and JBD CEO Darren Bark.

AJN STAFF
The Australian Jewish News
April 27, 2023

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) has congratulated Mark Speakman on his election as state Opposition Leader.

Speakman – who as attorney-general in 2018 saw the passage of stronger incitement legislation and last year the banning of Nazi symbols in NSW – was elected to the post on Friday following the Perrottet government’s defeat at last month’s election.

“Mark has long been a friend and supporter of the Jewish community,” JBD president David Ossip and CEO Darren Bark said.

Noting that Speakman played a key role in the bill banning the public display of Nazi symbols, they concluded, “The board looks forward to working with the new Opposition Leader and his team.”

The Liberal Party plans to install Natalie Ward as deputy leader once it changes the rules to allow an Upper House member to fill the role. Ward was chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel from 2019 to 2021.

Damien Tudehope has been elected Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council.