Lavac nominated in ‘Unsung Hero’ category

Sydney-based criminal barrister Peter Lavac has been nominated for the “Unsung Hero” category in the 2026 Sydney Awards – a Committee of Sydney initiative – by several members of the Jewish community, including Australian Jewish Association president Robert Gregory and Sydney solicitor Romy Dinte.

The winners of all categories will be announced at an already sold-out gala dinner at the Crown Sydney on September 17.

Dinte nominated Lavac for his “courage, compassion and unwavering commitment to justice”, noting that he is not Jewish, yet has become one of the most “fearless and vocal public defenders of Jewish Australians, at a time when many others remained silent”.

“He has consistently chosen principle over popularity, action over words, and service over self-interest … at great personal and professional risk,” Dinte wrote.

Since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, Lavac has stood publicly with Jewish communities in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, speaking at rallies and synagogues and in media interviews against antisemitism.

He has provided extensive pro bono legal advice and representation to Jewish Australians facing abuse, intimidation and discrimination.

In the second half of 2024 he travelled to Israel to film a documentary aimed at educating ordinary Australians about the realities of the October 7 attacks and the subsequent conflict.

And on May 18, 2025, during anti-Israel protests in Melbourne that turned violent, he physically intervened to protect Jewish Australians from assault.

Lavac has also devoted himself to many other worthy causes.

For the last five years he worked pro bono to expose what he believes was a miscarriage of justice in the death of Tasmanian schoolgirl Eden Westbrook.

Decades earlier, he rescued a father and son from cyclone-driven seas at Queenscliff Beach in 1971, disarmed a gunman when he worked as a security guard at the Sydney Hilton in 1975, saved a District Court judge from an armed attacker in 1980, and in 1990 he paddled a surf ski more than 1000km from Hong Kong to the Philippines to raise funds to help Hong Kong orphans.

Lavac revealed last week he received a death threat via WhatsApp on July 20, telling him “you will be dead believe me” and that “we are tracking you so we know who you are.”

He reported the message, including the alleged sender’s name, to police and believes he was targeted “because I’ve been supporting the Jewish community” – but he remains undeterred.

Lavac said he feels grateful for the “Unsung Hero” nomination, adding a win would give him “even more traction to continue to help the Jewish community, and to stand up and speak out on behalf of all ordinary Aussies”.