Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Adjournment

Community safety

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (19:00): (561) My adjournment is to the Premier, and the action that I seek is that the Premier introduce stronger hate laws to ensure that the police have the powers to crack down on violent, hateful extremism. These laws were promised following a parliamentary inquiry that the member for Brighton and I sat on in 2021, and we need them now more than ever. Now is not the time for the government to be sitting on their hands.

Social cohesion is at an all-time low, and many Jews, who have contributed so much to our great state, no longer feel safe. This morning the Herald Sun reported that an anti-Israel extremist allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a Palestinian Victorian because he dared to work for a Jewish boss. I cannot believe I would ever have to say that. Jews in Caulfield have been blamed for a fire at a burger shop even after the police categorically ruled it out. Thugs targeted Jews outside a synagogue on the Sabbath, forcing it to be shut down. Many Jews are too scared to go into Melbourne’s CBD. Children are afraid to look visibly Jewish when they walk to school. Community organisations have spent tens of thousands of dollars on security to keep themselves safe. The personal information of Jews has been shared online to target them on the dark corners of social media.

The far right and the far left stand united on two things: they hate Jews, and they hate the success of the great multicultural state that we have. These extremists storm council meetings, intimidate and assault Jews outside of them and threaten councillors for not supporting these motions. These extremists take over our streets, destroy private property and glorify hatred in our CBD. These extremists are determined to ensure that nobody in our community – nobody – can feel safe. The time has come to say ‘no more’: no more hate, no more division, no more violence, no more extremism. That leadership must start at the top. I urge the Premier, as I urge every Victorian, to stand proud and stare down extremism. I urge the Premier to strengthen our Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 to help every single Victorian in our great state feel safe again. Premier, the time to act is now.