Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Community safety

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (18:01): (725) I want to raise a matter for the Minister for Creative Industries today. What we have seen in recent days with the doxxing, with the extraordinary steps that have been taken releasing the details of Jewish artistic community members, is nothing short of disgraceful. It is wrong that these materials have been released and that people have been targeted. I am aware of individuals who are afraid to attend their home. I am aware of people who are worried about their businesses. The arts and creative sector should be able to operate freely and without fear, without attack, and I am very concerned that the Jewish community in Victoria has been made the target of these extraordinary attacks.

What I am asking the Minister for Creative Industries to do, given that these are artistic community people, is to advocate within the Victorian community but also within the government – to the Premier, to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, to the Minister for Police and so forth – to ensure that there is a proper response. At the moment I do not believe that those members of the Jewish community who have been targeted so disgracefully can have the confidence they deserve that the government is actually operating on their side, operating to protect them and doing everything it possibly can to make sure that people with a Jewish community background who happen to operate in the arts are able to do so. Essentially what has happened here is that a WhatsApp group has been distributed, and there is a number of individuals who have been involved in that. Frankly, I think the police ought to be investigating that. That is my humble view. But there is much more that can be done beyond that, and that is what I am asking the Minister for Creative Industries to do: to intervene and make sure that other ministers within the Allan Labor government actually stand up for these members of the Jewish community and make sure they are reassured that they can be safe and secure, that they can go about their pursuits, whether they are artistic or other business –

Georgie Crozier interjected.

David DAVIS: Well, indeed – attacked last night. People are very, very, very concerned. This is a nasty turn of events that has occurred in Victoria. Victorians should actually take great heed here. If the government are not prepared to stand up and the government are not prepared to send clear signals that this is totally and completely unacceptable, I think it reflects badly on them.

The PRESIDENT: Mr Davis, I am not underplaying the seriousness of the topic. Would it be better to direct it to the Premier?

David DAVIS: It could be to the Premier. But I know that this is a group of artistic and creative people who have been involved, and we need to protect creatives in that regard.

The PRESIDENT: I am just wondering how to get your best response.

David DAVIS: I am happy to be guided by you on this, President. I think it is the Premier.

The PRESIDENT: I think so, given that it is to speak to a number of ministers.