Questions without notice and ministers statements
Community safety
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:07): (343) My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Minister, Melbourne’s Jewish community is living in fear. Jewish kids are scared to go to school, families are afraid to go into the CBD and last Friday we saw rocks, bottles and punches thrown by vile antisemitic protesters outside a synagogue as people worshipped inside. Twelve months ago your government made an election commitment to provide $3 million of funding for security and education programs to combat antisemitism. Why has the government failed to deliver on its promise to deliver this funding?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:08): I thank Ms Crozier for her question. I think that it is important to acknowledge that there is a lot of pain and distress right across the Victorian community at the moment given the terrible events that are unfolding in the Middle East. I do not want to add to that pain and distress by taking up any of the points that Ms Crozier has made around assertions around politics and the delivery of commitments. What I will say is that since 7 October the government has worked carefully and diligently to bring our communities together and to support those communities who are deeply, deeply distressed about the events that have been unfolding both in Israel and in Gaza and more broadly in the region.
We have existing election commitments to tackle antisemitism and also Islamophobia. These are incredibly important commitments that we made during the last election campaign. We have been progressing discussions with both the Jewish community and the Islamic leadership and Muslim community in Victoria about finalising those packages of support and indeed bringing them forward as early as possible, recognising that at the moment there is a lot of pain in the community. The other thing we know, which we have had confirmed to us by our agencies, is there has been a significant uptick in the level of Islamophobic and antisemitic behaviour that has been reported through existing helplines and the like but also through VicPol, so we are absolutely aware as a government of the need to support our communities to stand up against any form of vilification or hate. I am working closely, as is the Deputy Premier, with those communities, and we will have more to say very soon about those election commitments being acquitted.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): Minister, I think the Jewish community will be extremely disappointed with your response, so I ask: given this funding has not been available for 12 months and now antisemitic incidents have increased 988 per cent in the month since the 7 October Hamas massacre, what additional money will the government commit to ensuring the Jewish community feels safe?
Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (12:11): Ms Crozier, I find that question troubling – the way in which you presented that to me and the tone that you took – because there are many ministers who have been working really carefully and consistently with the Jewish community over the last five or so weeks on this very issue. The Attorney has been working with the community. We have passed legislation in this place that banned the Nazi salute and the Nazi symbol because we recognise the pain that that represents. This is a collective effort, and it should be above politics, frankly. I have been working closely on those election commitments with the Jewish community. The police minister has been in constant meetings with the Jewish community about their concerns around security. I must say it is not just the Jewish community who are feeling this way. This is a sentiment right across the community, and our government will continue to support Victorians to feel safe.