Jacinta Allan will ‘leave no stone unturned’ to fight anti-Semitism

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is set to introduce a suite of reforms aimed at fighting ‘evil’ anti-Semitism sweeping the state, as the opposition slams Labor for acting too late.

Victoria’s Labor government will leave “no stone unturned” to combat anti-Semitism, as Premier Jacinta Allan is set to introduce a suite of protest reforms in the wake of the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue and a surge in anti-Jewish sentiment across Australia.

The proposed measures include enhanced police powers to disperse protests that promote extremism or religious hatred, a ban on face coverings and hate-inciting signage at rallies, and banning protests outside places of worship.

It’s understood the changes, to come in addition to new anti-vilification laws, will span several government portfolios to boost support for the Jewish community and initiatives to fight religious division in Victoria.

Ms Allan told The Australian on Sunday the Jewish community deserved more than “thoughts and prayers”.

“I will never forget the sight and the smell of that blackened synagogue for the rest of my life,” she said. “I will never forget the harrowing stories of escape from this act of terror.

“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.

“In the face of rising anti-Semitism, Jews deserve more than our thoughts and prayers. They deserve action that makes a difference. So does everyone who’s ever been made to feel unsafe or unwelcome in Victoria just because of who they are or who they pray to.”

Ms Allan spoke to community leaders inside the firebombed Adass Israel Synagogue. Picture: Brendan Kearns

It’s not clear when the reforms will be implemented as protesters continue to descend on Melbourne at weekly rallies.

Ms Allan’s comments and proposed action comes as Victoria Police announced the CBD would be a “designated area” between 11am and 5pm on Sundays. That will allow officers to search people and vehicles for weapons, compel people to take off face coverings, and order people to leave the CBD if they do not comply with police orders.

Pro-Palestinian protesters were advised by police to change their route at Sunday’s rally as a pro-Israel group marched at the same time, raising fears a clash between the two groups could turn ugly.

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said police had advised its members not to wear masks, and claimed “Zionist agitators” were among them. “The police can ask you to remove face coverings today,” Mr Mashni said, as chants of “shame” echoed from the crowd of hundreds. “Last week we had Zionist agitators from within us.

“There are Zionists within us that are trying to unmerge the good name and character of our movement … Zionism is a movement of hate, Zionism is a movement of racism, Zionism is a movement of exclusion, Zionism is a movement of genocide.”

Mr Mashni’s rhetoric on Zionism went unchallenged despite several ASIO warnings against inflammatory language.

State Police Minister Anthony Carbines revealed the government was in talks with its NSW counterpart to seek advice on banning protests at places of worship.

Federal opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson told The Australian it shouldn’t take 14 months and a synagogue being firebombed for the Allan government to take seriously the threat of anti-Semitism.