Jason Clare considers introducing classes to stamp out mounting antisemitic sentiments in major reform to national curriculum
On Monday the Victorian government announced the creation of a new anti-hate taskforce in response to a swathe of antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community.
Multiple incidents occurred across the city starting last Friday night, including an alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue.
Days later, pro-Palestinian protesters allegedly chanted 'Death, death to the IDF'.
Following the release of a 15-point plan from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry in February (ECAJ), which included antisemitism being incorporated into the national curriculum, Mr Clare reiterated that 'Holocaust education is part of the Australian curriculum'.
'It's only by learning the lessons of the Holocaust that we can ensure it never happens again,' he said to The Australian.
Mr Clare defended the government's response, pointing to the fact that the Albanese government had increased funding for social cohesion programs in schools and had also opened the National Holocaust Education Centre in Canberra.
However, he conceded that there was more the government could do to mitigate the soaring number of antisemitic incidents sweeping the nation.
'There is no place for the poison of anti-Semitism in our community, and our schools play an important role in educating young people about anti-Semitism and racism more broadly,' Mr Clare said.
He added the government would be prepared to alter the national curriculum if recommendations were made by Jillian Segal, the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.
'There is always more that can be done, and the government stands ready to work with the Special Envoy to Combat anti-Semitism on further reforms here," Mr Clare said.
The Australian reported Ms Segal is set to imminently urge the government to expand antisemitic education within the school system, and that it was a crucial preventative step.
Ms Segal said the 'environment of hatred and intimidation that has been allowed to grow and fester needs to be tackled head on'.
'Condemnation is not enough. We urgently need stronger policing and laws that name this hate for what it is and punish it accordingly," she said.
The Albanese government has faced fierce backlash for its approach in tackling the sharp rise in antisemitic behaviour, with critics arguing its response had been overly lax.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott called on the government to impose a crackdown on anti-Israel protests while ex secretary of the Department of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo implored the government to commission an Operation Sovereign Borders-style taskforce with bolstered powers.
Mr Pezzullo said the special taskforce should be composed of ASIO officials and top delegates from federal and state law enforcement branches.
'Regrettably, we have to assume that such an attack is now probable (to use the ASIO rating), especially as Iranian and possibly other hostile services might decide that mass casualty attacks on Jewish people and/or places would be an effective way to strike back at Israel,' he said.
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