By Paul Dyer
A man has been charged after he allegedly daubed antisemitic graffiti on a fence in Melbourne’s inner south and threw bacon at a passerby who tried to stop him.
Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit detectives on Tuesday arrested and charged a 68-year-old Macedon man over the “prejudice motivated graffiti” outside a mansion in Middle Park on Friday.
A man has been charged with criminal damage, unlawful assault and offensive graffiti.Credit: Paul Rovere
“It’s alleged a passerby approached the male offender and was spat on and had a packet of bacon thrown at him,” police said.
“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for antisemitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour. Police will always treat reports of such crime seriously.”
The man has been charged over criminal damage, unlawful assault and offensive graffiti. He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 6.
On Sunday, Port Phillip Mayor Louise Crawford described the Middle Park incident as a “cowardly attack” targeting the area’s Jewish community.
“Our closely knit Jewish community is still reeling from the December arson attack at the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea,” she said.
“We want the community to know we continue to stand with you and wholeheartedly condemn any antisemitic activity in our city.”
Crawford said the council had dispatched its emergency response team to assist with “the significant graffiti removal”.
Political leaders nationwide have been under growing pressure to act in response to a recent wave of antisemitism after a series of attacks on Jewish-owned properties and counterterrorism investigations into the Adass Israel synagogue fire and the discovery of an explosives-packed caravan in Sydney.
Federal parliament is this week considering tougher laws against hate speech, while NSW is also seeking to urgently strengthen its laws.
The Victorian government this week brought forward debate on its proposed expansion of anti-vilification laws which, if passed, would make serious vilification – such as incitement of hatred or physical threats – a criminal offence punishable by up to five years’ jail.
Last week, Victoria’s Chief Commissioner, Shane Patton, told The Age there had been a “huge rise” in antisemitism across Victoria, leading to thousands of police officers being deployed to patrol Melbourne suburbs.
Patton said since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel – in which Hamas militants killed 1200 people, triggering Israel’s war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians – more than 160 antisemitic incidents had been reported in Victoria and police officers had so far made 70 arrests. This masthead was unable to verify how many of these arrests had led to charges being laid.
Victoria police urged anyone with information about the alleged Middle Park incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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