Tuesday, 31 March 2026

 David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (13:06): When it comes to safety, particularly members of my community, the Jewish community, are seeing an unprecedented increase in antisemitism. A report just released by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and Community Security Group Victoria shows an alarming increase of 564 incidents in 12 months. Each and every day we are seeing another antisemitic attack, and enough is enough. We saw a horrific attack just over the weekend in Ripponlea, when a group of teenagers in a stolen car went out targeting Jews in our community, throwing eggs at them and screaming out profanities. This is absolutely hateful and shameful. And when talking to Victoria Police on the weekend, they reminded me that it will just be catch and release – these individuals will be caught and they will be back on the streets again with no consequences. There must be consequences. We cannot just keep seeing report after report, with police being stretched in resources, our courts not doing their job and no consequences in Victoria. This needs to change. These reports need to flow into action, and the government needs to finally do its job.