Security stretched to its limits
Jewish security volunteers are under growing strain amid increasingly targeted antisemitism.
The Royal Commission on Monday heard evidence from CSG NSW and CSG Victoria personnel, and from Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg, about surging and more targeted antisemitic activity, and a volunteer-based security network stretched to almost breaking point.
Witness ACO, a senior CSG Victoria leader, said antisemitic incidents had grown “exponentially” since October 7, 2023, with national volunteer hours rising from 62,749 in 2023 to 113,712 in 2025 – worth roughly the equivalent of $9 million at commercial guard rates.
CSG’s budget had “pretty much tripled”, yet remained largely reliant on community donations.
Unlike in NSW, Victoria lacks a formalised policing framework for the Jewish High Holy Days, although ACO agreed one “would be very well received”.
Two Victorian volunteers, ACS and ACR, described the personal cost factor – the former saying he had become desensitised despite working what amounted to “essentially two full-time jobs at once”.
Witness ACP from NSW, the author of CSG’s annual incident report, said that reported incidents rose 22 per cent nationally in 2025 to 1276 – a third consecutive annual record.
Victoria (569 incidents) and NSW (543) had the most, with abusive behaviour the largest category (605), while 51 incidents involved Jewish schoolchildren, mostly while they wore their uniforms when commuting.
ACP added the nature of reported antisemitic incidents had become “more targeted” than opportunistic, and there was a 97 per cent increase in charges laid nationally in 2025. Witness ACU described the escalating demands involved for dedicated CSG NSW volunteers such as her young adult daughter since October 7, saying “every shift carries a different emotional weight” for the whole family.
She described CSG as filling a gap that police cannot cover at every Jewish event, so that community members feel safe enough to attend.
Steinberg said incidents reported in Queensland had reached a new “off the charts” peak, and cited a February 2026 car-ramming at Brisbane’s largest synagogue that “shook our community to its core”.
He said recent surveys commissioned by QJBD found 71 per cent of Queensland Jews had experienced antisemitism firsthand, and urged the strong relationship with Queensland Police to be “replicated at a national level”.