Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Community safety

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (16:19): Seven months ago, after the horrific firebombing of Adas synagogue, we were promised, here, stronger protest laws, stronger hate laws, and what have we seen from this government? Absolutely nothing. No drafts, no information, absolutely nothing. Now, after another firebombing just up the road at East Melbourne synagogue, after more attacks, after a school is targeted by just visiting a museum, what do we see now? Another review. We are sick of reviews. We want action. On the day when we see a new police commissioner come into power, instead of saying we need more powers for protests, this commissioner says, ‘Well, Victoria is the protest capital of the nation’. Every other state has protest laws, but do not worry about Victoria; we will just keep doing what we are doing.

Well, wake up, Victoria. Wake up, this government. You are failing Victorians, you are failing our community and it is time you actually did something. It is time we had these laws. It is time we had move-on laws. These thugs turn up at the National Gallery of Victoria targeting people at the gallery. Jewish philanthropists, who have given more to this state than probably everyone in this Parliament combined, are being targeted simply because they are Jewish. That is disgusting. And where was the Minister for Multicultural Affairs? Well, she said, ‘These people are allowed to protest.’ That is absolute rubbish, and she should be apologising to the Gandels for her failure.