Coalition matches Jewish Arts Quarter pledge

The Coalition has responded to the ALP's pitch for the Jewish vote with a matching offer to invest in the Jewish Arts Quarter (JAQ) in Elsternwick.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles joined local MP Josh Burns on Monday to announce that an ALP government would invest $18 million to support the new cultural hub. Now the Shadow Minister for the Arts, Senator Claire Chandler, has come to the party, announcing a Coalition government would deliver the same funds to JAQ.

JAQ is being developed as a cultural precinct which will include a relocated Jewish Museum of Australia, a redeveloped Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre and National Library, the new Melbourne Holocaust Museum, and the existing campus of Sholem Aleichem College.

"The Jewish community has made an immense contribution to the culture and fabric of Australia," Senator Chandler said. "This commitment ensures that there will be a dedicated space where this rich history, art and culture will be celebrated."

Labor's decision to promise funds for JAQ is a clear pitch to Macnamara voters. Sitting MP Josh Burns is facing a strong challenge from the Greens, potentially exacerbated by a Jewish drift to the Liberals as a result of disillusionment with Labor over Israel policy and rising antisemitism. Macnamara has a 12% Jewish vote, which could be highly significant given the Greens were less than 2000 votes behind Labor on primary vote in 2022.

The Coalition announcement is more aimed at Goldstein, which has a smaller percentage of Jewish voters but where incumbent Zoe Daniel, a Teal independent, is facing a tight race against Liberal Tim Wilson. Daniel ousted Wilson at the last election but is likely to lose some Jewish votes this time over her criticism of Israel's war against Hamas.