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ADDRESSING ANTISEMITISM IN VICTORIA
JCCV responds to initiatives announced by the Government and Opposition.
Dear community,
ADDRESSING ANTISEMITISM IN VICTORIA
Yesterday, both Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson announced major initiatives to reduce antisemitism in Victoria.
The JCCV thanks both leaders for the extensive consultation leading up to these announcements. Their engagement reflects a clear acknowledgement that more must be done.
Both leaders also made important public statements:
- Premier Jacinta Allan: “This is not a Jewish problem to fix. This is everyone’s problem and everyone’s responsibility.”
- Opposition Leader Jess Wilson: “We are ready to work constructively with the Premier, with all sides of Parliament to get this done, because combating hate and antisemitism should never be partisan.”
These are powerful commitments and we will hold the leaders to them. Ending antisemitism requires a whole‑of‑community effort and it is not for one side of politics or another.
WHAT HAS THE JCCV CALLED FOR?
In the days since the Bondi massacre, the JCCV has held dozens of conversations with our member organisations, rabbis and community members.
These conversations – as well as the extensive recommendations in the Australian Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism – have informed a blueprint to combat antisemitism in Victoria.
This plan cannot be implemented in five minutes or even five months. It will take a committed and sustained effort by government.
We also call on a whole-of-society approach. Government alone cannot combat antisemitism. It is time to recruit businesses, unions, community groups, schools, universities, media, neighbour and friends to help.
That is why the JCCV has launched Educate 10,000.
Our goal in 2026 is to direct at least 10,000 more non-Jewish Victorians to undertake Jewish cultural awareness training, visit a synagogue or tour the Jewish Museum of Australia or Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
Please share this form with any of your non-Jewish colleagues, friends or associates and we will contact them in the new year to help them organise a visit.
WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED?
We would like to draw your attention to the Premier’s full remarks from yesterday here:
The Government’s 5 next steps to combat antisemitism includes:
- Further reforms to hate speech laws in Victoria, including an inquiry into work that needs to be done to combat online hate speech.
- Protest bans after a designated terrorist event, similar to the NSW proposal.
- Review of Victorian gun laws to ensure they are fit for purpose.
- Coordination of efforts to counter violent extremism in Victoria.
- A new committee of eminent Victorians to develop new, measurable goals to reduce antisemitism.
You can read more details about these steps here:
WHAT HAS THE OPPOSITION PROMISED?
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson announced three priorities to address antisemitism in Victoria.
The Coalition priorities are:
- Zero tolerance for hate and antisemitism – introduce protest laws that match those in NSW, introduce protest permits and ongoing funding for Jewish communal security.
- More accountability for government, universities and publicly-funded organisations to stop the spread of hate – including rescinding government grants from organisations that spread hate and adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism across all areas of government.
- Establish a bipartisan committee to identify next steps to combat antisemitism.
You can read more details about these steps here:
HOW HAS JCCV RESPONDED?
Together with Zionism Victoria, the JCCV released this statement in response to the plans announced:
“Antisemitism has gone unchecked for too long. It is our firm hope that the measures announced today will make Victoria safer for Jewish people. We call for the implementation of these reforms without delay. These measures will strengthen the legal framework that holds those who perpetuate antisemitism to account. They will create a safer Victoria for all. We thank the Premier and the Opposition Leader for meeting multiple times with many Jewish community leaders in the aftermath of the Bondi shooting. JCCV and Zionism Victoria will continue to work constructively across the Parliament to create a safer Victoria for all, including Jewish Victorians.”
WHAT'S NEXT?
We need to hold our leaders to account.
The JCCV has worked tirelessly for more than two years to address rampant antisemitism here in Victoria. This work will continue over the summer holidays and into 2026 – a state election year – to ensure that these promises are delivered as soon as possible.
We will also continue to monitor the implementation of recently passed anti-hate laws to ensure they are fit for purpose.
The JCCV will stay true to our mission – to champion a vibrant and resilient future for Victoria’s Jewish community.
