Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Community safety

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (09:52): Today I rise to add my voice to that of the Prime Minister and the Premier and many others standing with our Jewish community following the revelations yesterday from ASIO that Iran gave the order for the sickening antisemitic arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea in December last year. It was a cowardly and divisive act, an attack that struck at the core of a peaceful Jewish community in the beating heart of Melbourne. I welcome the Australian government’s immediate action to expel Iran’s ambassador, sever diplomatic ties and proscribe the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.

When I visited the Adass Synagogue on the morning of the fire and spoke with the congregation, the disbelief on their faces was palpable. A few days later we visited with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and toured the charred ruins.

Georgie Crozier: It took a while. It took too long.

Ryan BATCHELOR: I am sorry, Ms Crozier, that is a really offensive interjection.

Georgie Crozier interjected.

The PRESIDENT: Sorry, I was distracted. Rather than have a debate across the chamber, we will reset the clock. Mr Batchelor, without interruption.

Ryan BATCHELOR: I rise to add my voice to that of the Prime Minister and the Premier and many of our leaders in standing with the Jewish community following yesterday’s revelations from ASIO that Iran gave the order for the sickening antisemitic arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea in December last year. It was a cowardly and divisive attack that struck at the core of a peaceful Jewish community in the beating heart of Melbourne. I welcome the Australian government’s immediate action to expel Iran’s ambassador, sever diplomatic ties and prescribe the Revolutionary Guard of Iran as a terrorist organisation.

When I visited the Adass Synagogue on the morning of the fire, I saw the disbelief on the faces of a peaceful community. In the subsequent days, when I visited with the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, we toured the burned ruins of that place of prayer. The twisted metal, the charred prayer books and the acrid stench of hate will stay with me forever. But on my latest visit a couple of months ago we saw a resilient community praying again, peacefully praying in new premises. I want to congratulate the synagogue and the community for their resilience in the face of hate. We have got to all stand together as Australians and Victorians in condemning actions that bring hate to our city.