New reforms to crackdown on anti-Semitism after synagogue attack

A suite of reforms to stamp out anti-Semitism are set to be introduced by the Allan government after the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, and a tide of anti-Jewish sentiment sweeping Australia.

A suite of reforms to crackdown on anti-Semitism are set to be introduced by the Allan government after the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue and a tide of anti-Jewish sentiment sweeping Australia.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal that mooted changes include new police powers to break up protests where extremism and religious hatred are being fuelled and laws to ban face coverings and signs encouraging religious hatred.

Rallies outside places of worship are also expected to be outlawed.

It’s understood the changes, which will come in addition to new antivilification laws, will span several government portfolios to provide boosted support for the Jewish community and initiatives to fight religious division in Victoria.

The Allan government is set to introduce new laws after the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue.

At a press conference on Sunday, Police Minister Anthony Carbines slammed protesters for hiding their identities behind face masks saying they were doing so to “intimidate” people.

“We’ve seen the AFP make arrests in relation to the flying of flags and logos from proscribed terrorist organisations,” Mr Carbines said.

“We can’t arrest our way out of these matters…it’s the responsibility of all Victorians to call this out.

“Conflict in the Middle East is not a leave pass for anti-semitism at home.”

Transport Minister Danny Pearson said he felt very strongly about providing increased protections for Victoria’s Jewish community.

“I was raised to believe in two words - “never again.” I didn’t think in 2024 I’d have to say this,” he said.

“We can’t allow this kind of appalling, violent, disgusting behaviour on our streets.”

The tougher stance follows repeated requests by Victoria’s peak Jewish body, which have been calling for the introduction of a protest permit system – a change the state government has ruled out.

In a letter to the Premier this week, seen by the Sunday Herald Sun, Jewish Community Council Victoria president Philip Zajac called for the “urgent introduction of stronger laws to restrict harmful, intimidating and highly disruptive protests”.

“The JCCV again emphasises the need for a permit system to allow Victoria Police to direct protesters to areas where they are less likely to cause harm or disruption,” he wrote.

He also urged the Premier to give Victoria Police greater powers to “remove or disperse those who they believe may cause harm to the community and to strengthen exclusion orders”.

Police are only afforded extra powers, including forcing people to remove face coverings, when they declare a location a “designated area”.

“We have seen a normalisation of extreme anti-Semitic rhetoric from a range of groups on Melbourne streets, which cannot be allowed to go on,” Mr Zajac continued.

A member of the Jewish community staples a poster to the front of the damaged Adass Israel Synagogue. Picture: AAP

The Jewish community leader also called for a new working group to bring together government, local MPs, law enforcement and community leaders to examine best strategies to tackle anti-Semitism.

It comes after former treasurer Josh Frydenberg published a scathing letter to the Victorian Premier in this masthead on Saturday.

“It is not enough for the Premier Jacinta Allan to say “my priority is a cohesive society where all Victorians feel safe and respected” because that is not where we are at,” he wrote.

“Nor is it OK for the Premier to tell the Jewish community — as she did after October 7 — ‘I am prepared to offer any support you need to stay safe on our streets, in your schools and in your homes” because that is not what is being done.”

Premier Jacinta Allan has pledged $100,000 towards the rebuilding of the synagogue. Picture: Brendan Kearns

Ms Allan has visited the gutted synagogue twice since it was set alight last Friday, meeting with dozens of leaders and community members and pledging $100,000 to the rebuild.

“I will never forget the sight and the smell of that blackened synagogue for the rest of my life,” she said.

“We must leave no stone unturned to fight the evil of anti-Semitism in all its forms, and restore social cohesion in our multicultural state.”

Police Minister Anthony Carbines slammed protesters for hiding their identities behind face masks saying they were doing so to “intimidate” people.

This follows the Allan government’s proposed new reforms that would give police additional powers to break up protests and laws to ban face coverings and signs displaying hate.

“We’ve seen the AFP make arrests in relation to the flying of flags and logos from proscribed terrorist organisations,” Mr Carbines said.

“We can’t arrest our way out of these matters…it’s the responsibility of all Victorians to call this out,”

“Conflict in the Middle East is not a leave pass for anti-semitism at home.”

Mr Carbines firmly acknowledged that people have the right to protest in Victoria and conceded that many people attend protests with good intentions.

“You have the right to protest in Victoria. Not everyone will agree with what people protest about. What we seek is that people do so in a respectful way,” he said.

The Victorian government is seeking advice from community groups, Victoria Police and the New South Wales government regarding the reforms.

Minister Danny Pearson said he felt very strongly about providing increased protections for Victoria’s Jewish community.

“I was raised to believe in two words “never again.” I didn’t think in 2024 I’d have to say this,” he said.

“We can’t allow this kind of appalling, violent, disgusting behaviour on our streets.”