Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're approaching the one-year anniversary of the horrific events of 7 October, and Jewish communities in Western Australia and across Australia are feeling every bit as vulnerable now, as they face a rising tide of antisemitism. Every Australian has a right to reasonable protest, but we don't have the right to harass people, including children and their families.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened earlier this week adjacent to Perth's only Jewish school, Carmel School. Students and passers-by were subjected to an anti-Israeli rally, one that knowingly and deliberately targeted Jewish Australian families dropping off their children. That was not an appropriate place for a demonstration. Schools should be a safe and supportive environment, not the scene of angry protests against people trying to go about their ordinary lives.

WA Jewish community leaders close to Carmel School have of course been echoing this. My good friend Rabbi Dan Lieberman was quoted as saying, 'Protest where protests are held and leave children alone.' No-one should argue with that, or with a clear line being maintained between acceptable political expression and unacceptable political extremism.

In light of this incident, I believe it is important to place a question on the record. What precautions have the WA police, for whom I otherwise have the greatest appreciation and respect, put in place to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again? The officers of the Western Australia Police Force have done an excellent job in the past, ensuring that places like Carmel School and other Jewish community centres are safe for those living, working and, of course, studying there. But this incident should serve as a wake-up call, especially going into the Jewish high holidays in October—an important and holy time for our Jewish community. The diligence of the WA Police Force has been very welcome, but now is a time for greater vigilance.

If one Australian is threatened, all of us are threatened. We should be united in supporting the safety and security of Jewish Australians in Western Australia and indeed across the whole nation.