Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Community safety

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (18:45): (1716) My matter for the adjournment is for the attention of the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and it relates to a statement I have in my possession dated the 16th of the 6th – that is yesterday.

Earlier this afternoon, Temple Beth Israel was the target of an antisemitic act of vandalism when a swastika was painted on the front signage of our building. We are grateful to report that the graffiti was removed … thanks to swift and coordinated efforts of TBI staff, Community Security Group (CSG), Victoria Police, and the Port Phillip Council.

I am reporting an incident that has now been dealt with, which is the one pleasant side of this.

We acknowledge the deep concern many in our community are feeling as the situation between Israel and Iran continues to unfold.

They talk about the need to protect and support TBI and the broader Jewish community. This is signed by four people, including the senior rabbi Allison Conyer and the cantor Michel Laloum.

What I am seeking from the minister is that she reach out to members of Temple Beth Israel – and not just Temple Beth Israel but other Jewish community organisations that have not been given the support and not been given the reassurance that they need. We have seen, obviously, a series of incidents. We have seen the terrible incident at the Adass institution, the Adass facility, but also so many other examples, whether it be at schools or elsewhere. I think the time has arrived for state government ministers to become much, much more active in working with the Jewish community, ensuring that the community feels safe, acting ahead of time. I mean, this is clearly not stopping, these terrible incidents, and this recent example – and it is by far the least serious of other ones, but nonetheless it is a very serious and offensive approach that has been adopted, putting a swastika onto the main signage of TBI. I really just feel that the state government has not been prepared to step forward and really engage with the Jewish community and to ensure that these things stop. We still do not have that clear statement that is needed, that clear indication that the state government really values our Jewish community in the way it should.