Victoria's Jewish and Islamic schools will get cash to bolster security with the state government also giving community organisations funds to combat anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The government on Saturday announced an $8 million investment to ensure communities feel "safe, welcome and celebrated" with Jewish and Islamic schools to share in $2 million to improve security.
The state's 27 independent Jewish and Islamic schools will each get $20,000 to install measures like improved fencing, alarms and CCTV, and they will also be able to claim costs for additional security.
Jewish and Islamic communities will get $3 million each, with the money for the Jewish community to go to the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Zionism Victoria, Community Security Group and the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
The Islamic community will receive funds through the Islamic Museum of Australia, Islamic Council of Victoria, Melbourne Grand Mosque, Board of Imams Victoria and the Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt said anti-Semitism and Islamophobia had no place in Victoria.
"While we wish it wasn't required, we're proud to stand with our Jewish and Islamic communities every day to make sure they feel welcome and celebrated in our state," she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the federal government has imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions against eight individuals and one entity following the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said those targeted include Hamas members, operatives and financial facilitators, as well as a currency exchange owned by one individual.
"Sanctioning and publicly listing these additional eight persons and one entity for terrorism financing demonstrates that they are actively engaged in the support and facilitation of terrorism," Senator Wong said.
It is a criminal offence to provide assets to sanctioned individuals or entities, or to use or deal with their assets.
Australia imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions against Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the federal government, as an organisation in 2001.
Australian Associated Press
