It is understood Be.Bendigo’s board and executive spent much of yesterday in meetings discussing the event and Ms Tame’s appearance.<\/p>\n
The Tasmanian activist has been a strong advocate against gender-based violence and, more recently, has been a vocal critic of Israel.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771561210_528_5a91452c5c0952f222ada1b1ecdcf9b9.jpeg\")
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Grace Tame led chants at a protest in Sydney that were held during Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)<\/p>\n
She was criticised by federal MPs and the NSW premier last week for leading chants of “globalise the intifada” at a protest.<\/p>\n
“Globalise the intifada” is a contentious phrase that the NSW government has been considering outlawing under revised hate speech laws.<\/p>\n
The word “intifada” means “shaking off” in Arabic and has been used to refer to two periods of violent Palestinian protest against Israel.<\/p>\n
The phrase has different associations and meaning for different groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some members of the Jewish community have described it as a hateful call for violence that implies support for terrorism, but for many Palestinians it means continuing the struggle for Palestinian self-determination.<\/p>\n
The Bendigo event is scheduled for February 27 at the All Seasons Hotel in the lead-up to the women’s global celebration.<\/p>\n
Be.Bendigo told the ABC the event would go ahead.<\/p>\n
“This year\u2019s theme, Balance the Scales, provides an opportunity to reflect on progress toward fairness and reform for women and children,” a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“This is a business community event marking International Women\u2019s Day. Be.Bendigo remains committed to hosting respectful, constructive conversations.”<\/p>\n
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5d80afe3a5c27e9218ded60d2254755d.jpeg\")
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Grace Tame set up the Grace Tame Foundation, which advocates for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. (ABC News: Marcus Stimson)<\/p>\n
‘Wrong message’<\/p>\n
AJA chief executive Robert Gregory said he had not received a response to his letter, but said Ms Tame’s appearance at the event “sends the wrong message not only to Jewish\u00a0Australians, but to the broader community”.<\/p>\n
“Hosting and honouring Grace Tame would send a message that incitement is tolerated and\u00a0would lead Australian Jews to feel unwelcome in Bendigo,” Mr Gregory said.<\/p>\n
“International Women\u2019s Day should unite communities, not divide them or make any Australians feel unsafe.”<\/p>\n
Ms Tame did not respond to the ABC’s request for comment.<\/p>\n
Another Bendigo free-speech controversy<\/p>\n
Controversy surrounding Ms Tame’s appearance comes several months after the collapse of the Bendigo Writers Festival.<\/p>\n
Dozens of writers boycotted the event<\/a> after a code of conduct was issued telling writers to “avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful”.<\/p>\n It also stipulated that writers at the La Trobe University-sponsored events should adhere to the Universities Australia definition of antisemitism.<\/p>\n The Bendigo Writers Festival will return in 2027, after a one-year break. (Supplied: ArtsHub)<\/p>\n![\"bendigo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/efea39706e4e6496190700f48bb45f79.jpeg\")
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