‘Toughen hate laws’
Southwick noted stronger laws were promised after a 2021 Parliamentary inquiry he sat on with Brighton MP James Newbury.
Caulfield MP David Southwick has called for tougher hate laws in Victoria, telling Parliament the Allan government must give police adequate powers to crack down on hateful extremism.
Addressing Premier Jacinta Allan in a March 6 adjournment debate, the Deputy Liberal leader joined calls from Jewish communal leaders for the 2001 Racial and Religious Tolerance Act to be strengthened.
He noted stronger laws were promised after a 2021 Parliamentary inquiry he sat on with Brighton MP James Newbury.
Citing media reports that “an anti-Israel extremist allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a Victorian man because he dared to work for a Jewish boss”, Southwick said, “Social cohesion is at an all-time low, and many Jews, who have contributed so much to our great state, no longer feel safe.”
Laura Allam, a pro-Palestinian activist, and Mohammed Sharab, have been charged with kidnapping and assault after a 31-year-old man was allegedly lured into a trap in which Allam allegedly told a group of men to “hit him hard”. The case will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court in May.
Southwick told Parliament, “Jews in Caulfield have been blamed for a fire at a burger shop even after the police categorically ruled it out. Thugs targeted Jews outside a synagogue on the Sabbath, forcing it to be shut down. Many Jews are too scared to go into Melbourne’s CBD.
“Children are afraid to look visibly Jewish when they walk to school. Community organisations have spent tens of thousands of dollars on security to keep themselves safe. The personal information of Jews has been shared online to target them on the dark corners of social media.”
Southwick told The AJN on Tuesday, “As we’ve seen since October 7, antisemitic thugs have tried to attack, intimidate and bully the Jewish community, causing so many to feel unsafe.
“There’s no room for hatred in Victoria, which is why I’m calling on the government to pass long-promised laws that give Victoria Police the power they need to crack down on this appalling extremism.”
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