Community message
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- Community Message
WHO SHOWED UP THIS WEEK?
Political leaders, community allies and more than 16,000 Australians all had something in common.
Dear friends,
Celebrating Israel in Victoria
On Wednesday night, I was in a room that gave me hope.
First-term MPs mingled with retired Ministers, local councillors from across metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong chatted with Jewish leaders, rabbis engaged with diplomats at the Parliamentary drinks in honour of Yom Ha’atzmaut. All were in the same room for the same reason: to recognise and celebrate Victoria’s Jewish community and the community’s connection to Israel.
Premier Jacinta Allan told the gathered guests that she hopes to speak about Israel more:
“As a modern miracle of medicine. As the new frontier in science and technology. As the start-up nation. As a land that rose forests from the desert and cities from the sand. As a culture that celebrates taking risks and honours those who fail.
And above all, as a multilingual, multiracial and multicultural democracy, where argument is a national pastime – with dissent at the despatch box and around the dinner table.”
At a time when many governments and leaders continue to call for boycotts against Israel and Israeli businesses, the Premier announced that Victoria would pursue new partnerships with Israeli hospitals to boost our own medical research and health system.
Liberal leader Jess Wilson also spoke, sharing her views on Zionism:
“Under my leadership, Israel will always have a right to exist. And under my leadership, I will never allow the word Zionism to be used as a code word for blatant antisemitism. Because Zionism is not a slur, but a proud reflection of the Jewish people and their ancestral and spiritual connection to the land of Israel.”
In attendance on Wednesday evening were Government ministers, including Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Roads Minister Ros Spence, Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn, Housing Minister Nick Staikos and Corrections and Local Government Minister Paul Hamer, as well as many other Government MPs.
From the Opposition side, in attendance were Leader of the Nationals Danny O’Brien, Deputy Liberal Leader David Southwick, Shadow Minister for Education Brad Rowswell, Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier, Shadow Minister for Local Government Bev McArthur, Shadow Minister for Energy and Arts David Davis and Liberal MPs from across Victoria.
Councillors from nine local councils also attended including from areas well beyond Jewish neighbourhoods.
You can read my speech from the event, hosted by JCCV, Zionism Victoria, Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Zionist Federation of Australia, here.
I wish to thank each and every one of these allies for showing up for the Jewish community. Your friendship, your principles, your help during difficult days, are a source of strength for all of us.
Built for moments like this. Powered by community.
One of the lessons of the past few years is that if our community is not at the table, others will make decisions on our behalf.
That is why it is so important that Jewish voices are heard when governments, institutions and community leaders are considering issues that affect Jewish life in Victoria.
The JCCV’s role is not simply to advocate, but to listen. Through our member organisations and our engagement across the breadth of the community, we work to understand the challenges, priorities and aspirations of Jewish Victorians, and ensure those perspectives are reflected in the conversations where decisions are made.
Much of this work happens behind the scenes. It involves consultation, relationship-building and helping decision-makers understand both the lived experiences of our community and the opportunities to strengthen social cohesion.
I am proud of the collaborative approach our community takes to this work. By bringing together diverse voices and shared concerns, we are better able to advocate for outcomes that help build a safer, stronger and more connected future for Jewish Victorians. We are built for moments like this, but powered by the community we represent.
Royal Commission updates
Submissions closed this week. More than 16,000 submissions were received by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. No previous Royal Commission in Australia has received this level of engagement.
I want to thank everyone who participated in this process. Across the country, people took the time to share their experiences, perspectives and hopes for the future. Many submissions described difficult and deeply personal experiences, and I recognise the courage it took to put those stories into words.
The scale of the response demonstrates just how important this issue is, not only to Jewish Australians but to all those committed to building a more cohesive society.
The Royal Commission’s work will continue in the months ahead, with its final report due in December. We hope the evidence gathered will help drive meaningful and lasting change, and we will continue to keep the community informed as the process progresses.
Also this week, Commissioner Virginia Bell travelled to Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane to meet with individuals and organisations outside NSW and Victoria. We know from our counterparts in Australia’s smaller Jewish communities that antisemitism is not confined to the major population centres. It is, unfortunately, a reality across the country. We welcome the broad approach being taken by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
