Bayside Council unanimously adopts antisemitism definition

Bayside City Council in Melbourne’s south-east has become the second Victorian local council to formally commit to recognising and addressing antisemitism at its meeting on Tuesday night.

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria thanked Councillor Robert Irlicht for moving the motion and Councillor Andrew Hockley for seconding it, with all councillors present supporting the measure.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with councillors and staff to produce and implement a strategy for council that supports social cohesion, including addressing antisemitism,” the JCCV said.

The council adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which has been endorsed by 46 countries including Australia, and pledged to explore implementing a similar model to Waverley Council’s approach.

Councillor Irlicht, who moved the motion, emphasised the local nature of the issue during the debate.

“Antisemitism is a local crisis on our streets, in our schools, and hitting our residents,” he said. “Jewish kids face slurs at the Melbourne Museum, abuse echoes on Nepean Highway and Hampton Street. The Ripponlea Synagogue firebombing, which is a terrorist act, jolts us all.”

He rejected attempts to link the motion to Middle East politics, saying: “This isn’t about the Middle East. It’s not about Israel. This is not about Gaza. Conflating antisemitism with geopolitics is in itself antisemitic, and it weaponises Jewish safety.”

Councillor Andrew Hockley said the initiative was “essentially and fundamentally a local initiative” and noted the practical security measures required by Jewish institutions.

“In my ward, the Sacred Heart Church does not have ram-proof doors. The St Agnes Catholic Church does not have a special container to render its sacred scriptures fireproof. Sandringham High School doesn’t tell its students to change into plain clothes and out of their school uniforms to travel on public transport,” he said.

Councillor Kylie McIntosh highlighted the scale of the problem, noting 552 recorded incidents of antisemitism in Victoria last year, “and this obviously doesn’t count those that have occurred and have not been reported.”

The motion faced criticism from Jews for Justice Melbourne, a nine-member collective including three anonymous people, who argued the IHRA definition “will silence genuine and important political speech regarding Israel’s conduct, particularly in Gaza.”

The group, led by Rosie Heselev, warned the definition “perversely risks inciting the vilification of Jewish people who reject Zionism or criticise the state of Israel” and recommended the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism as an alternative.

Councillor Irlicht strongly rejected these concerns, calling the letter’s claims “factually incorrect” and “dangerously obfuscating.” He dismissed fears about monitoring and funding cuts as “utter nonsense,” insisting no surveillance measures were proposed.

The meeting attracted supporters and opponents of the motion both outside and inside the council chambers.

JCCV CEO Naomi Levin said the organisation has worked with councillors and staff from more than 20 local councils across Victoria to address antisemitism.

“This includes providing cultural and antisemitism training, advice and guidance on the IHRA definition of antisemitism and other useful tools, and appropriate strategies to combat antisemitism in different neighbourhoods,” she said.

The council joins Glen Ira, which has Victoria’s largest Jewish population, in formally adopting the IHRA definition and committing to address antisemitism at the local level.