Victoria’s government has moved swiftly in the wake of last week’s fire at the historic East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, announcing a new Anti-Hate Taskforce to sit alongside existing local support measures and tougher legislation aimed at stamping out vilification and violent protest.
The announcement follows the arrest and charging of an alleged perpetrator for lighting a small fire inside the synagogue during a service. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident has left congregants shaken and prompted a show of support from Premier Jacinta Allan.
Government pledges mental-health funds
On Monday, Premier Allan visited the synagogue to meet Rabbi Gutnick and the Shule President. “Places of worship like this synagogue are a part of our fabric as a society,” Allan said.
“We will protect them with everything we’ve got.”
She pledged additional state funding for mental health support, particularly for the children who were inside when the fire was lit.
In December, the government provided the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation with $80,000 for the upgrade of its security infrastructure. Allan reiterated that funding commitment and announced a fresh mental-health package to help congregants process the trauma of the attack.
Building on stronger anti-vilification laws
The Anti-Hate Taskforce will complement measures already in place following the passage of the landmark Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act earlier this year. That legislation strengthened penalties for hateful conduct against protected groups and closed several loopholes in Victoria’s vilification laws.
Meanwhile, the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group, set up last year to provide on-the-ground support to the Jewish community, has been active in organising outreach and rapid response.
Premier Allan said the Taskforce—a joint initiative of the state government, Victoria Police, and the City of Melbourne—will take a broader view, coordinating intelligence, prosecutions, and community liaison at a metropolitan level.
Taskforce to meet this week
The Taskforce will hold its inaugural meeting this week. Premier Allan and Police Minister Anthony Carbines will be joined by Victoria Police chief Kevin Bourke, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, and local Jewish community representatives.
Among the agenda items are:
- The operational rollout of the Anti-Vilification Act’s criminal provisions
- Updates from LEAH’s ongoing community consultations
- Progress on drafting new laws to ban extremist symbols, face coverings and attachment devices at public demonstrations
“We want to ensure that every Victorian feels safe to be who they are—in synagogues, at restaurants, or on the street,” Allan said.
“Hate doesn’t belong in Victoria.”
Multicultural sector review underway
In parallel, the government has commissioned the Lekakis Review into Victoria’s multicultural sector, led by former public-service commissioner Bill Lekakis. The review—due to report later this year—will assess whether existing policies, institutions and staff are equipped to counter divisive rhetoric and hate. Draft recommendations reportedly include a “social-cohesion pledge” that organisations must sign before receiving state funding.
A stepping up of protest laws
Allan also previewed a raft of tougher laws against extreme or violent public demonstrations.
Proposed measures under community consultation include: bans on face coverings at protests, restrictions on “attachment devices” used to chain oneself to structures, and prohibitions on the display of recognised terrorist symbols. Draft legislation is expected to be introduced to Parliament in the coming months.
A comprehensive action plan
Taken together, the new Anti-Hate Taskforce, the Anti-Vilification Act, LEAH, the Lekakis Review and forthcoming protest-control laws form what Allan describes as “a strong action plan” against hatred in all its forms.
“We back our police, we’re giving them more powers—and we won’t rest until every Victorian feels safe,”
she said.
For Rabbi Gutnick, the Premier’s visit and the government’s swift response have provided a measure of comfort to a community still reeling from an attack on one of Melbourne’s oldest synagogues. “Our community appreciates the support from the highest levels of government,” he told reporters after the meeting.
“These steps give us confidence that acts of hate will be met with the full force of the law.”
As Victoria prepares for upcoming community festivals and events, officials hope the new Taskforce will deter future incidents—and reassure all Victorians that their right to worship, live and protest in peace will be fiercely protected.
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