Latest news with #NaomiLevin
Herald Sun
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Victoria's racial vilification laws under fire as anti-Semitism soars
Victoria's Office of Public Prosecutions has not approved a single charge under the state's racial vilification laws amid soaring multicultural tensions and the worst spike in anti-Semitism Victoria has ever seen. The state's legal defence against bigots who racially or religiously vilify an individual or group has been labelled a 'catastrophic failure' after attempts by police to charge potential offenders were thwarted by the state's Director of Public Prosecutions. The Herald Sun can reveal the DPP has rejected potential charges proposed by Victoria Police under the laws over six incidents since Hamas' barbaric October 7 massacre in Israel – followed by Israel's deadly bombardment of Gaza – sparked a cultural and religious firestorm. The charges are understood to be related to the Jewish community and other multicultural communities. The Office of Public Prosecutions said another five requests for criminal charges were still being investigated. It comes as racial and religious tensions reach boiling point once again. Among the cases still being considered is a shocking neo-Nazi protest which occurred on the steps of parliament on December 20 last year – seven months ago. The black-clad white nationalists who chanted 'the Jews must go' and held up a sign reading 'Jews hate freedom' are yet to face charges. Victoria Police confirmed that they had referred charges under the act to the OPP. The group responsible, the Nationalist Socialist Network, has since gone on to stage multiple offensive protests, including one at Northland in which they promoted a racial slur towards African-Australians. Jewish community advocate Menachem Vorchheimer said the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act – which has been in place for more than two decades – was 'inoperable'. 'This is a catastrophic failure,' he said. Under the rarely used legislation, police are forced to seek approval from the DPP in order to press charges against a someone they believe has incited or encouraged hatred, serious contempt, revulsion or severe ridicule against an individual or group because of their race and/or religion. Following a last minute deal with the Greens, under the state's new anti-vilification or hate speech laws — which comes into play next month — police will also have to seek approval from the DPP in order to lay charges. The extra hurdle for police has raised concerns that the upcoming laws, regularly spruiked by the state government as the answer to the anti-Semitism crisis and rising extremism, has raised fears relevant charges may take months or be blocked altogether. Jewish Community Council of Victoria chief executive Naomi Levin said failing to lay charges meant potential offenders were given the green light to continue their offensive behaviour. 'An important aspect of the justice system is deterrence, but when no arrests are made for months and months that deterrence is eroded and individuals act with impunity,' she said. 'No one wants to see racist radicals roaming the streets and terrorising local communities.' Victoria Police's Operation Park, launched in response to increasing acts of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, has led to 149 arrests, with some dealt prison sentences. A police spokesman said the force regularly seeks advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions in relation to potential charges under the Act. He said a number of active matters, understood to be for lower level offences, were before the courts. A spokesman for the Director of Public Prosecutions said evidence from police, including all relevant statements, footage, interviews and other evidence obtained, can take several months to collate and hand to the OPP. 'Once the evidence has been collated and provided to the OPP, a careful assessment of the prospects of conviction for the RRTA charge can be undertaken,' she said. Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said police being blocked from taken swift action was a 'fundamental failure of Labor's so-called hate crime laws'. 'At a time when anti‑Semitic and racial hate has surged, police are doing their job with one arm tied behind their back,' he said. A Victorian Government spokesperson said charges were a matter for Victoria Police and the OPP. She said the new anti vilification laws included tougher penalties, including up to five years imprisonment, which would act as a deterrent. 'This hateful, extremist behaviour and the cowards who push it have no place here in Victoria,' she said.
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Police investigating after neo-Nazi flyers delivered to Jewish households in Melbourne
Police are investigating after pamphlets authorised by a neo-Nazi group were delivered to homes in suburban Melbourne on Wednesday. Victoria Police are also looking into a related incident where four men displaying antisemitic signage and handing out antisemetic pamphlets attended a pre-polling centre in Kew, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. "There is absolutely no place in our society for hate-based behaviour and Victoria Police works closely with various community groups to ensure the public feels safe and supported," a Victoria Police spokesperson said. Naomi Levin from the Jewish Community Council of Victoria told the ABC she had close to a dozen community members contact her after the flyers were put in letterboxes in Caulfield, in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, which has a significant Jewish population. "The flyer has caused real anger and distress among the Jewish community," she said. "Particularly because it's authorised by somebody who we know has been ... spreading racist and anti Jewish hate around the community across Australia for a number of months," she said. Leading neo-Nazi linked to anti-Semitic flyers, pre-poll stunt The flyer distributed to homes in Caulfield was authorised by "Joel Davis, National Socialist Network". Videos seen by ABC show 29-year-old Joel Davis, a known neo-Nazi, was one of the group of four men who attended the polling booth in Kew on Wednesday. He stood in front of antisemitic signage while accompanied by two men dressed in costumes mocking Orthodox Jews. Mr Davis wore a fake Liberal Party T-shirt featuring a doctored Israel flag on the party's logo and walked around the queue of voters attempting to hand out a flyer, which also mimicked Liberal Party campaign material. The sign was falsely stamped with the Liberal Party logo and reads: "Giving the Jews everything they want". Ms Levin said she had "grave concerns" about the intimidation and harassment of people just trying to vote. 'Many people in the Jewish community will be voting this week … and they need to feel safe and free to vote like any other Australian, and with the presence of these idiots polling booths, they they're not left feeling safe,' she said. Liberal Senator James Paterson said he was disgusted by the stunts. "I think we have to look very closely at whether any laws were breached, although I'm extremely reluctant to give them the attention they crave," he told ABC Radio Melbourne. "When something this vile happens I think the only response has to be utter and total condemnation." Mr Patterson's condemnation echoed that of other politicians, including state Liberal member for Kew Jess Wilson and independent member for Kooyong Monique Ryan. State Liberal MP David Southwick said: "Let me be crystal clear: this is not politics. This is hate. And it has no place in our community". Mr Southwick, who is Jewish, said the one of the flyers had been placed under the door of his office on Wednesday morning. In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said it was aware of the flyers and the incident in Kew and was working in collaboration with state police. The Australian Electoral Commission said it was reviewing the flyers to ensure they comply with authorisation rules, but was not able to make determinations about the content of electoral communications.
