Ban on protests outside synagogues and Jewish schools should be considered, Dreyfus tells royal commission
Summary
Mark Dreyfus, a federal Labor MP and former attorney general, has asked governments to think about banning protests near synagogues and Jewish schools to protect Jewish Australians. He referred to a 2019 High Court decision that allowed safe zones near abortion clinics and suggested similar laws could improve security for Jewish communities.Key Facts
- Mark Dreyfus called for considering bans on protests outside synagogues and Jewish schools.
- He compared these proposed laws to existing safe access zones near abortion clinics upheld by Australia’s High Court in 2019.
- The royal commission on antisemitism is examining Jewish community security and the involvement of Jewish Community Security Groups.
- Security concerns for Jewish Australians have increased since the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
- Dreyfus shared his personal experience of antisemitic abuse in Australian politics after October 2023.
- New South Wales reintroduced laws to limit disruptive protests near places of worship after earlier laws were struck down.
- Dreyfus suggested the federal government create criminal offenses for vilification and stronger laws against online abuse, involving more than just the eSafety commissioner.
- Jewish Community Security Groups are volunteer organizations helping protect Jewish schools, synagogues, and events.
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