Victorian councils unite to fight antisemitism

Local government leaders from across Victoria have gathered at Glen Eira Town Hall for a forum on antisemitism and social cohesion, with representatives attending from metropolitan and regional councils alike.

The Victorian Local Government Forum on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, hosted by the City of Glen Eira on Thursday, drew delegates from 68 councils that have signed a joint solidarity statement, as well as representatives from further afield.

Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal told the gathering that local government had a unique and essential role in pushing antisemitism to the margins.

“Councils sit where values meet real life,” she said. “When councils act with clarity, people feel safe to gather, to worship and to disagree.”

Segal outlined progress on her 13-point plan to combat antisemitism, accepted in full by the federal government in December.

She flagged the imminent release of university “report cards” assessing institutions on criteria including adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a UNESCO-supported school pilot programme, and a forthcoming handbook explaining the IHRA definition with Australian case studies.

She commended Glen Eira for adopting the IHRA definition.

“You cannot fight what you cannot define,” she said.

Glen Eira Mayor Simone Zmood said the forum reflected the council’s deep connection to Melbourne’s Jewish community, with around 20 per cent of Glen Eira residents Jewish.

“We’ve been hearing from our community over the last couple of years about their concerns, about not feeling safe, about graffiti, intimidation, and actual attacks,” she told The AJN.

Zmood said she was confident delegates were returning to their councils ready to act. ”

I am absolutely confident that councils, mayors, deputy mayors and councillors are going back to their respective councils with ideas about ways that we can build education, understanding and action.”

Port Phillip Mayor Alex Makin said the forum was about equipping local government to build belonging and cohesion, and stressed the broad reach of the solidarity statement.

“This is a broader problem of intolerance and racism and hatred that we need to stop,” he said.

A notable statistic to emerge from the day was that 74 of Victoria’s 79 councils have Jewish residents, underscoring that antisemitism is a statewide concern.

Delegates were also directed to New South Wales and the Waverley Council’s model antisemitism plan as a practical template for local adaptation.