$25 million grant for Jewish communal security
The $25 million for the ECAJ is to be distributed through the National Council for Jewish Community Security
The federal government has pledged $25 million to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to improve safety measures, including at Jewish schools and pre-schools.
A media release from Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Education Minister Jason Clare, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles said the government “is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all Australians”.
As part of a government commitment to support all communities “affected by the Hamas attacks on Israel and ongoing conflict”, $25 million will also go to Australian Palestinian, Muslim and other communities.
ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim expressed the roof body’s gratitude for the $25 million “to help meet and properly co-ordinate the security needs of the Jewish community across Australia”.
“This will be done in co-ordination with the CSGs and State and ACT roof bodies through the National Council for Jewish Community Security which operates under the aegis of the ECAJ,” he said.
“We have conveyed our thinks to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, Home Affairs Minister, Education Minister and Minister for Multicultural Affairs.”
He noted that sadly, the ongoing conflict situation in Israel is having severe repercussions for Jewish communities all over the world, including in Australia.
“The CSGs immediately require additional resources to increase the level of protection to the Jewish community including: increased manpower, providing additional services, training of staff and personnel, technology, patrols, crisis management, security monitoring and more,” he said.
On Wednesday, the government announced $50 million in grants as part of its Securing Faith‑Based Places program, with several Jewish organisations among the recipients.
Wertheim noted that the $25 million grant announced on Thursday is “completely separate from, and in addition to” the Securing Faith-Based Places grants.
“Whilst many Jewish organisations will be made grant offers under that program, other highly deserving institutions missed out, including six day schools, a Holocaust museum and a Chevra Kadisha to name a few,” he said.
“I have spoken to the Attorney General about this and he has indicated he is willing to hear from us about the design of any future rounds.”
The government has also committed $3 million over two years for targeted mental health and community wellbeing support services to address psychological harm and community distress, in addition to $6 million for mental health and wellbeing support to Jewish and Islamic school students.
A further pledge is for $12.8 million over four years to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist online content, including support for a 24/7 online crisis response capability and providing the eSafety Commissioner additional resources to receive and respond to referrals of abhorrent content.
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