In response to surging antisemitism, the government of Victoria, Australia, presented new laws to curtail protests near places of worship. These new laws come in the wake of several recent incidents, such as the arson of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and a protest that kept worshippers locked inside a Sydney synagogue for three hours.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan condemned these actions, saying, “That’s not peaceful protest. It’s menacing behavior,” and said that combating antisemitism is a must, which she called “a cancer.” She also emphasized the need for healing and unity in the multicultural community.
These bills protect religious congregations by establishing “safe access areas” to worship places, forbidding acts of disturbance, and an outright ban on symbols identified with terrorists. They also ban face masks adopted by protesters to hide their identities. The state legislature is expected to review the law by early 2024.
Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, has welcomed the proposed laws, stating that they are a significant step in fighting antisemitism: “Today, the Victorian government has declared war on hate and antisemitism — and it’s about time,” he said.
Arson attacks on the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 6 marked a rise in the attacks associated with the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict. Due to the declaration of the incident by the Australian authorities as a terrorist attack, more resources can be availed during the investigation process.
This legislation is in the continuity of previous acts such as the federal law enacted last month that banned Nazi symbols and salutes. The Australian legislation also reflects the increasing diversity of the country, with more than half of the population either born overseas or having foreign-born parents, according to the latest census.
