Brighton Secondary principal Richard Minack disputes claim there were 15 complaints to him about swastikas at the campus
A principal who is being sued by Jewish students says he didn’t have any way of verifying claims of anti-Semitic bullying.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Melbourne principal who is being sued by former Jewish students says he didn’t have any way of verifying their claims of anti-Semitic bullying.
Brighton Secondary College principal Richard Minack is being sued by five former students who allege they experienced anti-Semitic bullying, discrimination and negligence when they were students.
At the Federal Court on Friday, Mr Minack said allegations of bullying were raised with him but he wasn’t given “specific information” about the incidents.
“I didn’t have anyway of verifying the information either,” he said.
“I can’t remember being given any of the names of the perpetrators for example.”
When asked if any action was taken after a Jewish student was robbed by another student, Mr Minack said it fell out of jurisdiction because it occurred during the school holidays.
“We didn’t take specific disciplinary action against students because it occurred during the holidays,” he said.
Mr Minack also disputed a claim that there had been 15 complaints to him about swastikas around the campus, telling the court he only recalled one complaint.
Liam Arnold-Levy, brothers Joel and Matt Kaplan, Guy Cohen and Zack Snelling are suing Mr Minack, two other teachers and the State of Victoria over anti-Semitic bullying they said they faced at the school between 2013 to 2020.
The students – who all left Brighton Secondary – claim that saw swastikas “everywhere” in the classrooms and toilets and were subjected to anti-Semitic taunts and violence.
But Mr Minack disputes the allegations, previously telling the court he never saw the offensive symbol around the public school.
The trial before Justice Debra Mortimer continues.
Land Forces protester arrested for Nazi salute, as new wanted faces released
Police have arrested a Crib Point man over a Nazi salute at the chaotic anti-weapons protest in Melbourne’s CBD, as they release fresh images of other demonstrators they are searching for.
Tobacco enforcer sent youths to attack rival stores, court told
A Melbourne dad became second in charge to a tobacco syndicate’s ringleader and would order youths to carry out revenge attacks in an escalating turf war, a court has heard.