The Age reports about a new antisemitism scandal in Australia, involving the antisemitic podcast guest of a former Aussie Rules Football star Warren Tredrea:
Port Adelaide says it is conducting a review into board member and former star Warren Tredrea following a complaint about the content of his podcast.
Tredrea has denied accusations of antisemitism, after a guest on The Ballsy Show made controversial comments in an interview.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Power said they were reviewing their 2004 premiership-winning captain’s conduct after “concerns raised about recent public content published by [the] member-elected club director”.
Port’s move came after the Jewish Council of Australia, a left-wing pro-Palestinian group, objected to an Instagram post from Tredrea related to remarks about Israel from the guest on the retired footballer’s podcast. The club said the 46-year-old Tredrea would remain on the board until the review was completed.
Tredrea said he “unequivocally” condemns war and genocide and is “not in any way, shape, or form, an antisemite” after Port Adelaide said they were undertaking a governance review.
The former star had a former British army veteran on his show last month. In comments that have since sparked a furore, A.J. Roberts made assertions without evidence that Israel was “a fake state” and that Mossad was “part of carrying out 9/11 … and created ISIS”.
Tredrea did not make antisemitic comments in the interview and The Age is not suggesting he supported Roberts’ theories.
The Age attempted to contact Tredrea. He defended his podcast on social media on Wednesday night.
“I started this podcast series as a result of some personal and professional developments in my life over the last few years – private matters which have played out in a public forum. Those matters have made me sceptical, and even cynical, about big government, big business and big media,” Tredrea wrote on X.
“In an effort to work my way through this, I have found myself attracted to people who have taken a similar life path, and have taken a similar view to these big organisations.
“I have been curious to talk to these people in a public forum about uncomfortable issues, some, but not all, of which have played significant roles in the shaping of my view of the world in the past few years.
“Let me make it abundantly clear. I unequivocally condemn war and genocide, and seek only to share other perspectives of what has been a very one way reported narrative in the mainstream media.
“I am not in any way, shape, or form, an antisemite, and consider it defamatory for anyone to accuse me as such.
“As someone who always aims to do the moral and good thing even when it’s hard, my ultimate goal is to create unity and cohesion whilst pursuing a fair go for all.”
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The Jewish Council of Australia had expressed its concern about the podcast comments .
“[The council] is deeply disturbed by the amplification of far-right antisemitic conspiracy theories in this Instagram post and podcast episode,” executive officer Max Kaiser said in a statement.
Reading this, my first thought was who the hell do the Jewish Council of Australia think they are weighing in on this? They represent only a nutty fringe of Israel-hating Jews. What’s more, their head, Sarah Schwartz, has made some vile antisemitic comments herself. Like far-left, Israel-haters in the US, they will only go after antisemitism from the Right (almost like a bait-and-switch to distract from the antisemitism within their own movement).
I tried to understand which comments they found objectionable (I assume they would be ok with the guest’s assertion that Israel is a fake state). But I could not find their statement in the media releases section of the JCA website; just plenty of anti-Israel press releases:
I also found Warren Tredrea’s response to be quite telling, especially this part:
“Let me make it abundantly clear. I unequivocally condemn war and genocide, and seek only to share other perspectives of what has been a very one way reported narrative in the mainstream media.
Sounds to me like he thinks Israel is comitting genocide in Gaza, a highly problematic view based on misinformation.
Then I decided to listen to the podcast to see whether Tredrea pushed back when the guest engaged in antisemitic tropes and accusations.
He didn’t and even said “yeah” when the guest claimed Israel was a fake state. Here is an edited clip to show some of the worst statements and some of Tredrea’s reactions (but you can watch the entire interview here).
.@warrentredrea, as someone who has appreciated u as an @AFL player, I'm disappointed to see u platform this antisemite. You did not push back against his antisemitism, and even said "yeah" when he claimed Israel was a fake state./1. https://t.co/6RZdHvOMF0 pic.twitter.com/dL2ZBK8UZA
— David Lange (@Israellycool) June 26, 2025
I do not know what is in Warren Tredrea’s heart but this really is not a good look for him. It looks like he agreed with the guest, even if he doesn’t agree with everything he said.
Warren, life is not an AFL game. You can’t just handball the responsibility to someone else. You platformed this vile antisemite without pushing back against any of his antisemitic assertions, essentially spreading his message to your audience.
