Jeff Kennett: I’ve never seen such shocking behaviour and division on our streets

Never in my lifetime of 75 years have I seen such behaviour, such division, on our streets, in universities and against the property of many, with leaders unwilling to address the growing anti-Semitism in our society.

Floods to the north of us, fires at home.

Again, we are reminded what a large country we are and how mother nature can so quickly render pain on communities of Australians.

How it can cause so much damage to our land and put at risk the lives of volunteers and paid officers who are called upon to address these destructive forces of nature.

We are indebted to those frontline workers and we extend our moral support to those so afflicted by the fires and floods.

Yet while so many have to address these circumstances, others are running around the country defacing properties, burning buildings, and verbally abusing individuals to the point that they do not feel safe to walk in the community or wear their school uniforms.

What sort of community are we becoming that we allow this sort of behaviour? Never in my lifetime of 75 years have I seen such behaviour, such division, on our streets, in universities, against the property of many. Never have I seen governments so ineffectual, so unwilling to address the growing anti-Semitism in our society.

The Middle Park home of one of Victoria’s most successful Jewish business families was sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti. Picture: Supplied.

Political leaders have said a great deal, time and time again at a federal and state level. How disgusted they are, how such attacks are unacceptable, how un-Australian such behaviours are, but they have done nothing. It shows us all again, the public has stopped listening to our current leaders. They carry no weight and are offered no respect. They are leaders in title only.

When these attacks started last year, leaders of merit would have called community leaders together to put in place a plan, agreed to by all, backed by federal and state legislation to combat hate speech and criminal acts based on religious differences.

Importantly, the Prime Minister and Premier should have been called back to meet their relevant parliaments to provide the legislative structures to deal with these matters, and to provide the consequences for those who want to divide this nation and act against what has been our overriding strength over the last 75 years. Our unity based on our diversity.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting the Adass Israel Synagogue after it was firebombed.

Protests over policies is one thing, but acts against Australians because of their colour, religion or gender is absolutely unacceptable and for which there must be consequences.

Of course, I have no idea who the individuals are committing these hateful crimes, but if detected, the laws should allow the majority of citizens to be protected. The laws of the land cannot be sympathetic to the perpetrators of these acts.

The federal and Victorian parliaments are meeting this week. I will be interested to see what co-ordinated measures are put in place, that can become law immediately to address this growing act of sabotage by some, against the country they were born in, or in which they elected to live.

Consequences, consequences, consequences please!

In Victoria we have two by-elections on Saturday.

One in Prahran, currently held by the Greens, where the ALP have decided not to contest.

It is my opinion that the Greens have been complicit in dividing the community when supporting anti-Semitic behaviours, attending rallies, and occupying university campuses.

They have lost any claim to being an organisation of merit, let alone the causes that led to their founding. Conservation, our environment, and climate. Economically they offer policies that will cost a fortune if ever introduced and will influence inflation and interest rates staying higher longer.

Pro-Palestine protesters at Melbourne University. Picture: David Crosling

Sadly, they are anti the opportunities for our young people.

They are the same policies they pursued in the recent Queensland election where the Greens were overwhelmingly rejected by the electorate.

The other by-election in Werribee is much more interesting. The former seat of Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas who, like Daniel Andrews, has jumped ship leaving we all to pay the price of their gross mismanagement.

It will take a swing of almost 11 per cent for Labor to lose this seat, a big ask. But if it were to occur apart from the damage to Victorian Labor and Premier Jacinta Allan in particular, the result will have ramifications for the federal election.

Even a swing of 7 or 8 per cent will be an indication that a swing of that size in Victoria at the federal election could see a change of government, with the Coalition having a majority in its own right.

The Werribee by-election, sparked by the resignation of Treasurer Tim Pallas, is shaping as an interesting battle. Picture: Aaron Francis

To reduce the swing against it, both the federal and state Labor leaders have made financial commitments within Werribee that should have been made years ago.

Both governments have considered Werribee a safe Labor seat. As such it has been fundamentally ignored by Labor governments in addressing its growth.

Of course, the people of Werribee are paying the price of the massive money being wasted on the Suburban Rail Loop, along with the rest of us.

As always, the public will decide.

Have a good day.

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria

Originally published as Jeff Kennett: I’ve never seen such shocking behaviour and division on our streets