Thursday, 16 November 2023

Thomastown electorate

Bronwyn HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (14:45): (433) My question is to the Minister for Police. I am seeking the minister’s assistance in setting up a roundtable discussion with residents in the Thomastown electorate and Victoria Police’s priority communities division. Therefore my question is: how can I go about setting up this roundtable discussion? I have been overwhelmed by the number of residents contacting me in great distress due to the increasing incidence of hate speech, aggression, threats and abuse directed at people of Arab-speaking backgrounds. Such incidents have been experienced by individuals of all faiths that have connections to the Middle East, from the youngest primary school age child to elderly grandmothers, who have been screamed at, told to go home – ‘We don’t want you here’ – called terrorists and animals and have had things thrown at them from passing cars. Many are not reported because they think no-one cares and nothing can be done, but something can be done and will be done.