Allan ‘understands’ anger directed at her, pledges $1.8 million for Jewish event security

2 months ago 5

Security at Jewish community events and children’s summer camps in Victoria will be bolstered after the Bondi terror attack, as Premier Jacinta Allen acknowledges the deep anger directed at her government.

The Victorian government on Tuesday pledged a $1.8 million safety package to support the Jewish community. The announcement followed a tense appearance by the premier at a Hanukkah event on Monday night, where she was booed by the crowd.

Premier Jacinta Allan announces a security package for Jewish community.

Allan said she understood the hostile reception from a community deeply hurt by the events in Sydney and acknowledged there was more work to be done.

“I understand why there was that response because this is a community that is angry and is grieving,” Allan said. “That’s why, as a leader, I show up and show my support, but then also take further action.”

The $1.8 million package includes an additional $900,000 for the Jewish-run Community Security Group (CSG) to increase resources at cultural events, schools and places of worship.

A further $250,000 will be allocated for security at youth summer camps across the state, and $380,000 will be provided for mental health and wellbeing support. The remaining $250,000 will fund therapeutic intervention programs for people at risk of radicalisation.

Speaking at the security funding announcement, Zionism Victoria president Elyse Schachna thanked the premier but said the government needed to do more to combat antisemitism.

“It’s a real shame that at this point in time, money needs to be given to security and supporting mental health,” she said.

“We have bigger issues in our society to confront, and I’m glad the premier acknowledged that we have an issue and a problem of extremism in our state and country.

“We look forward to seeing what active measures will be in place to stamp out this extremism that is causing hate, is causing violence and ultimately causing the murder and the massacre in Bondi.”

Philip Zajac, president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, claimed people had been radicalised during the weekly Melbourne CBD protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Allan with state and federal MPs during Hanukkah prayers at the Caulfield Shule.

He said the protests should not be banned, but must be managed in a better way, singling out chants such as “all Zionists are terrorists” and “globalise the intifada” as examples of antisemitic speech heard at protests.

“The chants and the hate speech that comes out of these rallies is just dreadful, and it shows a total lack of understanding of the history of the state of Israel,” Zajac said.

Free Palestine Melbourne, one of the organisers of the weekly protests, said in a statement on social media that it was appalled and deeply saddened by the massacre at Bondi Beach.

It rejected assertions that the pro-Palestine movement had played a part in the terror attack.

“We reject responses that are emerging that are being used against the Palestinian community, who have known deep horror and loss over the past two years,” the statement said. “Don’t let this unspeakable crime in Bondi divide us.”

Victoria passed new protest laws this month that banned the use of attachment devices, such as rope, glue and chains, and increased restrictions on protests around places of worship.

But a previous pledge to ban face coverings was watered down. Instead, police can order the removal of masks only if they reasonably suspect a protester is committing or about to commit a criminal offence.

The Victorian Liberals want the government to introduce a permit system similar to the one used in NSW, which requires protesters to inform police about demonstrations.

On Tuesday afternoon, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the premier had allowed antisemitism to spill over into violence for two years at weekly protests.

“It normalises the fact that you can go out and call for the destruction of a group of people week in and week out, and nothing will be done about it,” she said.

“That’s why we’ve called consistently to put in place a registration system that has worked in NSW.

“There’s been a sense of inevitability about the massacre in Bondi, the fact that we’ve seen this ancient hatred fester in our community – we know the longer it is festered, the more likely it is to spill over into violence.”

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