New anti-hate taskforce established following spate of anti-Semitic incidents

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced a new anti-hate taskforce, following a spate of anti-Semitic incidents in Melbourne at the weekend.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visits the East Melbourne synagogue, which was recently fire-bombed. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

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Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced a new anti-hate taskforce, following a spate of anti-Semitic incidents in Melbourne at the weekend, including an attempted firebombing attack on a Melbourne synagogue.

Ms Allan, who on Monday visited the historic East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, said the taskforce would be in addition to the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group established by the government in the wake of the bombing of Ripponlea’s Adass Israel Synagogue in December.

“Where LEAH focuses on problem-solving at a local community level, the anti-hate taskforce will look at the bigger picture across our city and state,” Ms Allan said.

The Premier had tapped Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and police executives for the taskforce, her office said.

Invitations to the first meeting, to be held this week, will also go to representatives of Melbourne’s Jewish community.

Ms Allan said the taskforce would advise on how Victoria Police planned to operationalise the criminal components of the Anti-Vilification and Social ­Cohesion Act, which passed the Victorian parliament earlier this year.

The taskforce will also advise on progress from the LEAH meetings occurring within the Jewish community and the progress of community consultation and development of legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests.

Ms Allan on Monday morning said she had spoken with Rabbi Moshe Gutnick and members of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and pledged funding for mental health support to those impacted.

“Hate like this has no place in any place of worship, but when it particularly attacks a synagogue, it has that horrific, that evilness, of anti-Semitism as its undertone,” she said.

“And that is why I will not rest and will continue to take every action necessary to not just strengthen the law but to respond and lead in terms of how we as a community … need to act, to say very, very clearly that acts of hate, acts of violence, acts of anti-­Semitism, have no place here in Melbourne and Victoria.”

At the weekend, police arrested and charged Angelo Loras, who on Friday allegedly doused the front door of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation with an accelerant before trying to set the building alight as 20 worshippers gathered inside for Shabbat.

Also on Friday night, Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne’s CBD was stormed by protesters, some of whom were wearing keffiyehs.

Police are also investigating a third incident in which three cars were vandalised and set alight in Greensborough.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich welcomed the establishment of the taskforce.

“It signals something that Jewish Australians need to hear right now: that they are not alone, and that their government sees this crisis for what it is, a sustained campaign of intimidation targeting our community’s right to live in peace, to pray in safety and to belong,” Dr Abramovich said.

“As I stood on the charred steps of the synagogue this week, I thought about the children inside who will now forever associate Shabbat with smoke and fear.

“That’s not just a Jewish problem, that’s an Australian problem.

“This taskforce must not be symbolic. It must be muscular, resourced, and fearless.”

Victorian Liberal Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the government had failed to deal with the hate crimes occurring in the state and called for police to be given stronger powers to move protesters on in order to crack down on hate speech.