Thursday, 6 March 2025

Community safety

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (18:12): (1498) My adjournment matter this evening is for the attention of the Minister for Health. I have just been listening to Mr McCracken’s excellent adjournment matter on the issue around antisemitism, and mine also is related to that, but within the health system. I have spoken about this in the past in this place and in recent weeks, after many revelations have been aired, including the actions of Dr Mohamed Ghilan who was at the Alfred Hospital, and after his horrifying antisemitic posts, he left there when an investigation by AHPRA was undertaken.

After the 7 October terrorist attacks, Dr Ghilan shared posts showing the slain Hamas leaders saying:

Humiliation will never be for us.

Other posts read:

I am Hamas, they are Hamas, we are all Hamas.

and –

Live like Sinwar or die trying.

These are very offensive and concerning remarks for every Victorian in the way that we live in the wonderful, democratic state of Victoria, and there is no place for these sorts of comments in this country.

After Dr Ghilan left the Alfred, he started working in another public health service at St George’s Health, which is under the auspices of St Vincent’s Hospital. On 21 February he went on two weeks leave. Well, that two weeks is now up. The action I am seeking from the minister is to understand his employment status within the public health system and to understand whether he has been posting or making comment that is antisemitic or pro-Hamas propaganda related. I think this is a very serious matter. I think it is very concerning for many people that work within our health system, especially those providing care for all Victorians and not judging them on any religious or political beliefs. It has no place within the Victorian health system. I think the minister needs to act. I do not know what she is doing, apart from saying a few things. It really does need to be attended to in the most serious way. I urge the minister to provide reassurance to all Victorians, especially Jewish Victorians, that this doctor is not practising or conducting this propaganda, like he has done over the last 18 months.