Jacinta Allan to consider ban on protests outside places of worship
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will consider a ban on protests at places of worship, after Josh Frydenberg blasted her for failing to attend a vigil on Sunday and called for the introduction of a permit system.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will consider a ban on protests at places of worship following the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in southeast Melbourne, after she failed to attend a vigil on Sunday showing support for the Jewish community.
Instead of going to the vigil at Ripponlea, the Premier was at an event in inner-city Northcote to announce plans to change state outdoor drinking laws for restaurants and pubs.
Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the vigil blasted Ms Allan and the Labor government for being “missing in action”.
“I say to the Premier of Victoria, this happened on your watch, responsibility rests at your door,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“Jacinta Allan gets a big fail because a lot of the attacks and incidents are happening here in Victoria, more than any other state. We should have as they have in NSW a permit system for demonstrations which have become incubators for hate.
“Jacinta Allan should ensure that synagogues, churches and mosques, places of worship are safe places. The NSW Premier has taken that step by asking for advice from his Attorney-General … why won’t the Victorian Premier do the same?”
Hours after Mr Frydenberg’s call for Ms Allan to follow the NSW government’s lead, a Victorian government spokesman told The Australian that state Labor would consider its own ban on protests at places of worship.
“The Victorian government will consider changes to the law which ensure that people can exercise their right to attend places of worship freely, without fear, intimidation, harassment, or obstruction.”
It was left to local federal Labor MP Josh Burns – the most senior ALP figure at the vigil – to absorb the crowd’s fury and apologise for his party’s handling of the months-long crisis.
“It should have never gotten to this point in this country and I acknowledge that,” Mr Burns said. “I know that this community has been crying for months and months, including when my office was attacked that it should never have gotten to this.”
Ms Allan announced $100,000 to aid reconstruction efforts for the synagogue.
She visited the site on Friday, though her visit was marred by protesters accusing her of failing to address rising anti-Semitism.
Cries of “Shame on Jacinta” echoed as she left the scene without answering calls to label the attack as domestic terrorism.
On Sunday, Ms Allan stopped short of branding the attack as a form of terrorism when addressing the media at the Peacock Inn Hotel.
“I think we’re all just so incredibly distressed – so incredibly distressed – to see how conflict in the Middle East has been used by some to drive conflict here in Melbourne and Victoria,” she said.
She said it was important not to compromise the ongoing investigation by rushing to label it an act of terrorism.
“I will take my advice (on that matter) from the Chief Commissioner.”
Mr Minns requested advice from his Attorney-General to look at law reforms to protect places of worship, such as mosques, churches and synagogues.
He will seek advice on a possible police task force devoted to stamping out anti-Semitism, after Mr Frydenberg called for the action “to enforce the law and where necessary advise how to strengthen it”.
“Let me analyse that. I’m obviously looking at the police response in NSW, the Strike Force that was stood up to combat those hate crimes in Woollahra several weeks ago,” Mr Minns said at a press conference in Kogarah on Sunday.
Pressure on the Victorian Premier came two days after arsonists – two masked figures dressed in dark clothing – were seen carrying jerry cans before vanishing into the night on Friday. The attack was swift but devastating, obliterating sacred items and centuries-old texts cherished by a community still striving to heal from the atrocities of the past.
The federal police’s top national security official will fly to Melbourne on Monday, in anticipation the firebombing will be referred to counter-terrorism forces.
It comes as Victoria Police investigate the discovery of a 9mm bullet on Saturday evening. A Victoria Police spokesman confirmed a single bullet was found on the footpath outside the synagogue.
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto raised concerns on why Ms Allan did not attend the vigil on Sunday, saying it was “absolutely important” for leaders to show support.
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