Wednesday, 1 May 2024

 Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (12:51): (811) Southern Metropolitan Region is home to a range of diverse multicultural and faith-based communities, so my question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. How is the government supporting social cohesion in our community?

I recently had the honour of attending a roundtable discussion at the Central Shule in Caulfield South, where women’s groups from Melbourne’s Jewish community spoke with the Premier about their recent experiences since the 7 October attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. With my colleagues the members for Box Hill and Bentleigh and Mr Berger, we heard firsthand accounts of the real impact this conflict has had on the lives of many in the Jewish community. These women are concerned not only for themselves but for their families, and they spoke with us about their perceptions that the rate of antisemitic sentiment is on the rise. They gave very real and heartfelt accounts of being afraid to express their Jewishness in public and feeling unwelcome in parts of our city.

The conflict has generated many strongly held views, and that is understandable. But it is incumbent upon everyone who expresses such a view to do so in a respectful and empathetic manner. We can all learn from each other’s perspectives. That is what makes our diverse Victorian community so strong.