Community safety
Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (10:04): It was a long night last night, but in the early hours of this morning we passed a very important piece of legislation to combat hate and hate speech in our community. I know many in the community of the Southern Metropolitan Region, particularly in the Jewish community, wanted us to pass that bill, and I am glad that the government with the support of the crossbench managed to get it through. I am deeply, deeply disappointed that the Liberal Party voted against legislation to combat hate speech in our communities. I know that the significant Jewish community in the Southern Metropolitan Region wanted that bill to be passed, and Labor has delivered it for them. On Monday I was talking to the president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria. He reiterated the importance of that bill being passed, and I am glad we have delivered. Just last Friday I was visiting the Adass Israel Synagogue community at their temporary synagogue facilities that have now been established following the devastating fire last year, which showed where hate in our community can lead. It is a powerful demonstration of why we have always got to stand together, united with strong laws against hate. That is what this Parliament did yesterday. That is what Labor did yesterday, and I cannot understand why the Liberals were opposed to it.