Members statements
Community safety
Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (09:48): Antisemitism has no place in our society and we all must work together to make sure it is eliminated. We had last year the very distressing attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, one of the more vivid and distressing examples of antisemitic attacks in our community. I went down on the morning of the attacks and spoke with members of the congregation and then paid a subsequent visit to the synagogue. The sights and the smells will forever stay with all of us who walked through those doors and saw the terror and the horror that was inflicted on that particular part of Melbourne’s Jewish community. But there have been more attacks against Melbourne’s Jewish community as recently as the weekend and some incidents overnight.
The Jewish community in Melbourne gives us such richness and strength. We value the contribution they have made to building this city and this state. In our community no-one should be afraid to walk the streets showing their culture, showing their faith.
That is why this government is taking action to introduce more powers. We have got legislation in the other place to deal with vilification. I am proud to stand with the members of the Jewish community in the Southern Metropolitan Region.