Election 2025: Adam Bandt and Greens accused of breaching racial and religious intolerance laws over protests

Adam Bandt and the Greens have been accused of potentially breaching racial and religious tolerance laws over anti-Israel protests.

Menachem Vorchheimer who has lodged the complaint with VCAT's human rights division. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

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Adam Bandt and the Greens have been hit with a human rights complaint alleging failures to address overt anti-Semitism at anti-Israel protests they attended or supported.

Prominent Israeli community leader Menachem Vorchheimer has accused Mr Bandt and his party of engaging in conduct and/or authorising or assisting others who incited or caused revulsion or severe ridicule of Jews.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal complaint alleges the breaches of racial and religious tolerance law were based on Jewish beliefs or actions, claims denied by the Greens.

Mr Vorchheimer singled out the use by others of the chant or slogan “All Zionists are terrorists”, which led to high-profile anti-Israel activist Hasheam Tayeh being arrested last year.

Mr Vorchheimer wrote to Mr Bandt in 2023 and 2024 making clear that the conduct of people at the rallies he or the Greens promoted, endorsed or attended arguably led to several breaches of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.

“Mr Adam Bandt MP and the Australian Greens engaged in conduct and/or authorised and assisted others to engage in conduct that incited hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of Jews based on their race and/or religious beliefs or activities,’’ the particulars of the claim read.

“The chant and statement ‘All Zionists are Terrorists’ incited hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of Jews based on their race and/or religious beliefs or activities.

“This hatred has manifested itself in assaults on Jews, including attacks on

synagogues (including the terrorist attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue), homes, businesses, schools and/or childcare centres.

“Israeli flags have been stolen and set on fire and/or trampled on at the rallies promoted, endorsed, attended and/or led by Mr Adam Bandt MP and/or representatives of the Australian Greens.”

A Greens spokesman said: “The Greens completely reject these claims. However, as the matter is now before VCAT we won’t be making further comment.”

Mr Vorchheimer said he had repeatedly been labelled a terrorist, baby killer and other things, which had had a significant impact on his mental health.

He said members of his immediate family have been racially or religiously vilified, and that the vilification had caused his family and other Jews to contemplate leaving Australia.

Mr Vorchheimer said Zionism was a lawful religious belief that did not preclude a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state living alongside a Jewish state in peace.

Mr Bandt last week questioned whether Israel was to blame for Hamas’s brutal executions of Palestinians who had risen up against the terror group’s stranglehold of the Gaza Strip.

He said while the killings should be investigated by human rights groups, the ultimate problem in Gaza was Israel’s occupation.

“For all killings to finally stop, and for Palestinians and Israelis to have a just and lasting peace, the occupation of Palestine and the invasion of Gaza need to end,’’ Mr Bandt said.

“Australia needs to move from words to action and put pressure on the extremist Netanyahu government to end the occupation of Palestine, which is the root cause of the conflict, and end the ­invasion of Gaza.”

Hamas last week began to crack down on thousands of Gazans protesting against the group, executing at least six and publicly beating others, ­according to Israeli media.

The Greens have campaigned strongly in the past 18 months against Israel, at times attending protests in Melbourne.

Mr Vorchheimer said he would be happy to take part in a compulsory conference with Mr Bandt and the Greens.

He wants Mr Bandt and the Greens to publicly acknowledge that it is unlawful to incite hatred, serious contempt and/or ridicule of Jews based on their race or religious beliefs.

He also wants an apology for any labelling of Jews as terrorists and publicly acknowledgment that the phrase “All Zionists are Terrorists” has caused harm to social cohesion in Australia.

The complaint was filed on April 2 and will be dealt with by VCAT.