Published: 24 October 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Victoria Police say they will lay charges on anyone who uses the Nazi salute, after new legislation banning the gesture came into effect last week.
As antisemitic attacks increase in the shadow of the Israel-Gaza war, the Australian Government is stepping up funding for Jewish and Islamic community security.
The government will provide $25 million to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and $25 million to Australian Palestinian, Muslim and other communities affected by the Hamas attacks on Israel and ongoing conflict.
The government said enhancing safety at Jewish schools and pre-schools was a key objective of this funding decision.
The government also announced:
$12.8 million over four years to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist online content, including support for a 24/7 online crisis response and resources for online safety via the eSafety Commissioner
- $6 million for mental health and wellbeing support to students in Jewish and Islamic schools and students of Jewish and Islamic faith in government schools, recognising the impact of the conflict on young people in these communities
- $3 million over two years for targeted mental health and community wellbeing support services to address psychological harm through the Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma and targeted Primary Health Networks
The new funding is in addition to the $50 million for 177 grants under the Securing Faith-Based Places grant program.
Both Jewish and Muslim communities have reported an increase in attacks since the Hamas attack on October 7. The ECAJ said the number of antisemitic attacks went from one the week before the attack to 37 the week after. The Islamophobia Register reported a fourfold increase.
