Jacinta Allan accuses Greens of sparking racial tensions on the streets of Melbourne

Premier Jacinta Allan has accused the Greens of using the Middle East conflict to “politicise grief” but the Victorian Greens leader hit back at the claim.

Premier Jacinta Allan has called on the Greens to condemn a surge in anti-Semitic attacks, accusing the minor party of using the Middle East conflict to “politicise grief”.

In her strongest condemnation of the Greens yet, Ms Allan on Tuesday lashed the party and said they were responsible for sparking tensions on the streets of Melbourne.

“We have to see an end to this constant deliberate politicisation of tragedy overseas coming to the streets of Melbourne by the Greens political party. It’s got to stop,” she said.

“Let’s be clear, the Greens political party are using this to politicise grief. They would choose to bring division to the streets of Melbourne off the back of people losing their lives in the Middle East.

“That is the choice that the Greens political party is making so it’s incumbent upon them to explain to the Victorian community how that shows any sign of leadership, that is unacceptable.”

Jacinta Allan says the Greens are responsible for sparking tensions on the streets of Melbourne. Picture: Diego Fedele

Ms Allan also accused the minor party of being behind a pro-Palestine demonstration in parliament, and an aggressive protest at Labor’s state conference this month.

“We’ve seen the parliament become an unsafe workplace for staff and members of parliament because of the actions of the Greens political party,” she said.

Ms Allan, who revealed she supported Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s condemnation of the anti-Israel slogan ‘from the river to the sea’, said the Greens should be calling out the recent anti-Semitic graffiti attack on the front fence of Mount Scopus College in Burwood.

“That’s what the Greens political party should be out there condemning, not pulling political stunts here in the Victorian parliament,” she said.

“They should be joining with us to support our Jewish community.”

On Tuesday evening, Greens leader Ellen Sandell issued a statement condemning the graffiti.

“The Greens condemn the anti-Semitic graffiti at Mount Scopus College, as we stand against racism in all its forms,” she said.

“There is no place for anti-Semitism or Islamophobia in our society, and we’ll continue to speak out against it, as we’ll continue to speak out against a brutal invasion which has killed tens of thousands of innocent people including children.”

Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt on Sunday also spoke about the incident.

“I condemn those words. There is, of course, no place for that. And we’ve said from the very beginning, from the first moment that this got debated in Parliament – no to anti- Semitism, no to Islamophobia, no to the invasion,” he said.

Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell said ‘there is no place for anti-Semitism or Islamophobia in our society’. Picture: Nicki Connolly

It comes as Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell and MPs Sam Hibbins and Gabriele de Vietri entered parliament on Tuesday wearing the colours of the Palestinian flag.

Ms Sandell said politicians wear colours to signify different things.

“I’m wearing the colours of the Palestinian flag in solidarity with the people of Palestine who have come on to incredible bombardment from the Israeli military,” she said.

Last sitting week, the parliament banned politicians wearing the keffiyeh – a scarf that symbolises support for Palestine.

Ms Allan said she was also concerned by reports of Islamophobia as a result of uproar on the streets.

“There are many young women in our community, who are also being verbally attacked simply for wearing a hijab,” she said.