Out now: the first Victorian Antisemitism Report

Published June 27 2023
Antisemtism, Collaboration

For the first time, Victorians will have a better understanding of the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in their state.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) and the Community Security Group Victoria (CSG) have partnered to publish the first Victorian Antisemitism Report.

According to the report, antisemitic incidents, including written and verbal abuse, graffiti and threats, peaked in 2020 and 2021. These years coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when Victoria’s Jewish community were collectively targeted, particularly following two high publicised breaches of COVID-19 regulations. The report includes analysis of these events and the antisemitism that arose.

The report also includes a comprehensive table of recent antisemitic incidents. Notable in this list is the range of locations – incidents are recorded across Victoria, from Richmond to Mount Martha.

Among incidents reported were threatening antisemitic letters sent to a Jewish organisation; Jewish youths at a scout camp told to “go gas yourselves”; and graffiti on a St Kilda tram stop accusing Jewish people of abusing children.

The report draws its data from the national antisemitism report compiled annually by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry based on incidents reported to CSG. This first edition of the Victorian Antisemitism Report analyses incidents from 2019 to early 2023. Future reports will cover data on an annual basis.

“The Australian Jewish community has been fortunate that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has, for so many years, collated an annual report on antisemitism at a national level,” Daniel Aghion KC, President of the JCCV, said.

“The national report is an indispensable resource that has given us the opportunity to best understand the challenge we face, but also to efficiently and effectively direct community effort and resources.

“What we have been missing in Victoria though, is analysis of antisemitism at a local level. This first edition of the Victorian Antisemitism Report fills this gap.”

Justin Kagan, CEO of CSG Victoria, explained that the organisation has a clear definition of an antisemitic incident, which provides for effective data collection.

“The CSG defines an antisemitic incident as any malevolent act directed towards individuals, organisations or properties associated with the Jewish community,” Kagan explained. “Such acts are considered antisemitic if there is evidence of their motivation or content being rooted in antisemitism, or if the victim was specifically targeted due to their Jewish identity or perceived Jewishness.”

Aghion concluded: “The JCCV and CSG Victoria are pleased to work together to produce this report and together encourage policy makers, law enforcement, human rights leaders and our community to read this report carefully.”

“Together we can create an evidence-based plan to prevent further incidents through education, a stronger legal framework and steadfast leadership.”

To access the report visit dropbox.com/scl/fi/7tvj055ieosvio8hm2cus/Vic-Antisemitism-Report-June-2023_final.pdf

Community members are urged to report all incidents of antisemitism to CSG on 1300 000 274 and in an emergency to always call 000

For media inquiries, please contact the JCCV on +61 419 826 500 or email community@jccv.org.au