Southern Metropolitan Region
Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (12:44): (1601) My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. How is the Allan Labor government supporting the Sephardi community in the Southern Metropolitan Region? Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the Sephardi synagogue in Balaclava. Sephardi Jews are those predominantly from the Middle East and Africa, originating from the Iberian Peninsula. The Sephardi synagogue received $126,000 last year as part of the Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund, and the money was used to make important upgrades to the synagogue, including to their outdoor and kitchen facilities. But it also enabled a museum space to be created to showcase, for the first time, some of the rich history of the Sephardi community here in Melbourne. This is the only Sephardic synagogue in Melbourne, and it was a pleasure to visit, talk to the president and see the joy that the small contribution from the Allan Labor government has brought in recognising and preserving the culture and the heritage of this important part of Melbourne’s Jewish community.