Allan govt pledges $8m to fund anti-Semitism fight after year-long wait to deliver election promis

The Allan government has pledged $8m to help fund the fight against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia more than a year after the funding was promised by Daniel Andrews.

The state government has finally delivered on its election promise to help fund the fight against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, rolling out $8m to the Jewish and Islamic communities.

Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt and Education Minister Ben Carroll delivered the long-awaited news on Friday, beefing up the promise with an extra $2m to boost security measures in both Jewish and Islamic schools amid troubling tensions over the war in Gaza.

Both faith groups will receive $3m to combat discrimination, celebrate culture and increase security through a series of community programs.

In the Jewish community, the funding, which will be rolled out over three years, will be split between peak bodies, Zionism Victoria and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, as well as the Community Security Group.

Melbourne Holocaust Museum will receive $752,000. Picture: Derek Swalwell

The Melbourne Holocaust Museum will also receive $752,000 to deliver an advocacy program and enhance their existing initiatives focused on raising awareness, reducing antisemitism and vilification and educating the Victorian community on Jewish history.

The Islamic Museum of Australia, Islamic Council of Victoria, Melbourne Grand Mosque and the Board of Imams Victoria will receive support to continue their outreach work with various communities across the state.

The Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights will be given $380,000 to support women and young people who have experienced vilification, and to run an online campaign to help combat Islamophobia.

An additional $2m will boost security measures at Jewish and Islamic

schools across Victoria, with 27 independent Jewish and Islamic schools receiving $20,000 for measures like security services, improved fencing, alarms and CCTV.

Israel Solidarity Event. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll. Picture: Josie Hayden

Ms Stitt said while she wished the funding wasn’t required, the government was “proud to stand with our Jewish and Islamic communities every day to make sure they feel welcome and celebrated in our state”.

Mr Carroll said it was “unacceptable” that students or staff felt unsafe at school.

“An investment in the security of our Jewish and Islamic schools will make sure school communities can focus on the health, wellbeing and learning of their children,” he said.

Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb said the community was “immensely grateful” that the government had followed through on its pledge.

“The past few weeks have shown just how critical this is, and we are truly appreciative of the support we have received from the Victorian government in what has been a particularly traumatic time for the Jewish community,” he said.