Jess Wilson unveils antisemitism action plan

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Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has called on Premier Jacinta Allan to recall Parliament and implement a comprehensive package of measures to combat antisemitism, including a temporary pause on protests following terror incidents and government funding for security at Jewish schools.

Speaking at Yeshivah – Beth Rivka Colleges on Monday morning, Wilson said Victoria was “facing serious and growing problems with hate and antisemitism” and that “the time for words, statements and task forces without teeth is over.”

The Opposition’s plan includes matching NSW’s move to pause protests while terror investigations are underway, strengthening police move-on powers, implementing a protest registration system, and expanding bans on symbols and slogans that incite violence.

“Chanting ‘globalise the intifada’ is inciting violence and destruction of the Jewish people, and it cannot be tolerated on our streets,” Wilson said.

The Opposition is also calling for two years of government funding for security at Jewish schools and synagogues, strengthening accountability across universities and publicly funded organisations, and establishing a bipartisan steering committee to identify legislative gaps.

Wilson said taxpayer-funded institutions “should never be a platform for hate” and called for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism to be implemented across government immediately.

“It can be done here in Victoria immediately. We do not need to wait,” she said.

Wilson said Victorian universities are established by state legislation, giving the state government the mechanism to ensure campuses are safe for Jewish students.

“We must absolutely ensure that staff and students are safe on university campuses, and that it’s non-negotiable for hate to be on these campuses,” she said.

Liberal MP for Caulfield, David Southwick, said what happened in Sydney “should be a wake-up call to all governments.”

“The time for talk is over, and we need action right now,” he said.

“Parliament should be recalled. We need to pause these protests. We need a permit system, and we need to ensure that there is no hate on our streets, hate in our schools, hate in boardrooms, hate anywhere in Victoria.”

Southwick said the reality in Victoria was that schools like Yeshivah Beth Rivka need armed guards, with parents footing the bill.

“Parents struggle enough when it comes to being able to send their kids to school, let alone have to pay for security to keep their kids safe, and this is something that needs to change,” he said.

Southwick criticised Premier Allan for not calling him in the week since the Bondi attack.

“I’ve had calls from nearly every member of the Labor Party checking in on me to see what’s happened. I have not received a call from the premier up until today,” he said.

“Leadership is what counts right now, and the Victorian Jewish community want to see a premier that stands up, that fronts up, and ensures that all Victorians are safe.”

Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum, principal of Yeshivah – Beth Rivka Colleges, said he agreed with the politicians about armed guards.

“We shouldn’t have to be paying for it. I agree that we shouldn’t have to be standing there and hearing people call for our death and destruction,” he said.

But he emphasised the importance of education, calling on “every single principal, every single teacher, every single person” to speak up when they hear antisemitic comments.

“Say, ‘No, no, we teach, we preach love and goodness,'” he said.

Daniel Houseman, co-chair of the Yeshivah – Beth Rivka board, outlined the financial burden of security measures.

“Since October 7, we have found that we’ve had to put on a significantly increased number of security guards. We’ve had to upgrade physical security around our school,” he said.

Houseman said the school’s security guard costs were approximately $650,000 per year, “just doing the absolute bare minimum that we need to do.”

“This comes at a pretty extraordinary cost to us as a school, and it’s something that at the moment, as David mentioned, that parents are often bearing, and it’s something that, frankly, if it has to continue on this way for a long period of time, won’t be sustainable,” he said.

Wilson called for a bipartisan approach to combating antisemitism.

“This package is about protecting Victorians, upholding the right to live a life free from fear, to make sure our laws actually work in practice. It is not about slogans. It is about action,” she said.

“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.”Jess WilsdonP

In a joint statement, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and Zionism Victoria welcomed statements on combating antisemitism from the government and opposition.

“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,” they said.

“These measures will strengthen the legal framework that holds those who perpetuate antisemitism to account. They will create a safer Victoria for all.”

The organisations thanked both the Premier and Opposition Leader for meeting multiple times with Jewish community leaders following the Bondi shooting