Today's News Headlines: Victoria Premier to form anti-hate taskforce after antisemitic attacks in Melbourne.
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Taskforce promises action after anti-Semitic attacks
An anti-hate taskforce has met for the first time in the wake of a spate of incidents involving Jewish institutions in a major capital city. The taskforce, set up by the Victorian government, heard from a number of stakeholders, including police, Premier Jacinta Allan revealed on Wednesday. It listened to members of the Jewish community, including Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler, all of whom shared their views on how the state can tackle anti-Semitism. It also heard from Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush on the force's readiness to act on the criminal components of the Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act. Members were also told about the work of the government's Local Escalation and Help group, set up to facilitate communication between community leaders and the government. "We also discussed the importance of education in combatting anti-Semitism," Ms Allan said in a statement. "We agreed if there were further action we needed to take to keep Victorians safe, we will not hesitate to take it." Ms Allan said the government would introduce to parliament as soon as possible new laws aimed at "stamping out extreme, dangerous and radical public demonstrations." The taskforce will meet again in the coming weeks. The meeting came after worshippers were forced to flee the East Melbourne Synagogue after it was firebombed on the same night Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by pro-Palestine protesters. Sydney man Angelo Loras, 34, has been charged over Friday night's synagogue firebombing. But Palestinian Australians have accused leaders of political silence, suspicion, hostility or surveillance when it comes to their plight and say they are met with protest crackdowns and threatened with repressive laws. "There have been no task forces, no public statements of care for Palestinians as they watch their loved ones massacred by the genocidal state of Israel, or are targeted by anti-Palestinian racism here in Australia," Australian Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said on Tuesday. Mr Mashni demanded political leaders stop criminalising Palestinian resistance, grief and political expression and engage in meaningful consultation and inclusion in decisions that affect their lives and rights. "The longer political leaders ignore and avoid us, the more obvious their double standards become," he said. Miznon's owners have spoken of the "profound impact" of the incident on Friday. The demonstration outside the Hardware Lane restaurant ended with protesters smashing a glass door, up-ending tables and throwing chairs. About 20 protesters converged on the restaurant, some chanting "death to the IDF" in reference to the Israel Defence Forces. Police on Tuesday charged a 50-year-old Richmond man, a 48-year-old Footscray woman and a 28-year-old Essendon woman with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage after another person was arrested and then released for hindering police that night. The restaurant said the actions of a few had caused much distress to customers, patrons and staff in neighbouring restaurants. "We respect everyone's right to their own nationality and religion. We ask for the same," the owners said in an Instagram post. Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance have claimed responsibility for the protest. Other offenders on Saturday spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" then set them alight in the city's northeast, while a fourth incident involved offensive images spray-painted on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick.
West Australian
10 hours ago
- West Australian
G8 Education announces major overhaul with CCTV rollout, more parental control after childcare worker arrested
Parents are set to be given more control over who is involved in their child's personal care routines, while CCTV is set to be rolled out across all 400 of G8 Education's childcare centres. G8 education operates Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook in Victoria where Joshua Dale Brown, 26, allegedly abused eight children between April 2022 and January 2023. It is alleged some of the children were as young as five months. In a statement to investors, G8 Education on Tuesday announced a broad package of additional safety measures in response to the allegations. The company confirmed it was accelerating the rollout of CCTV to every centre it operates nationwide following trials in several of their centres. G8 will also expand its use of Individual Learning Plans to allow parents to nominate preferences about which educators handle their child's personal care, including nappy changes and toileting. G8's managing director and chief executive Pejman Okhovat said he and his team had been meeting personally with families in Victoria in the wake of the allegations against their former employee. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,' he said. 'I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through, 'Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria. 'We are continuing to work with Victoria Police, the Victorian government and other authorities as part of their ongoing investigation and are doing everything we can to give them the best chance of achieving justice for the children and families involved.' The company has also committed to commissioning an independent review of the incident once the criminal proceedings are concluded, to further strengthen its child safety procedures. G8 said that, while it already has comprehensive child safety policies in place, including banning devices in childcare rooms, mandatory reporting protocols, and ongoing staff training, it recognises the need to go further. Beyond its own network, G8 has called for broader sector reform, including the establishment of a national educator register, a unified Working with Children Check across states, and a national register of early childhood workers employment history. Authorities have released the details of all 20 childcare centres where Brown worked, including the dates of his employment. Parents and caregivers of 1200 children have been directed to have their kids tested for sexually transmitted infections out of an 'abundance of caution'.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Major changes after childcare worker arrest
Parents are set to be given more control over who is involved in their child's personal care routines, while CCTV is set to be rolled out across all 400 of G8 Education's childcare centres. G8 education operates Creative Garden Early Learning Centre in Point Cook in Victoria where Joshua Dale Brown, 26, allegedly abused eight children between April 2022 and January 2023. It is alleged some of the children were as young as five months. Joshua Dale Brown has been charged with 70 offences involving eight children at a Point Cook childcare centre. Picture Supplied. Credit: Supplied In a statement to investors, G8 Education on Tuesday announced a broad package of additional safety measures in response to the allegations. The company confirmed it was accelerating the rollout of CCTV to every centre it operates nationwide following trials in several of their centres. G8 will also expand its use of Individual Learning Plans to allow parents to nominate preferences about which educators handle their child's personal care, including nappy changes and toileting. G8's managing director and chief executive Pejman Okhovat said he and his team had been meeting personally with families in Victoria in the wake of the allegations against their former employee. 'These allegations are deeply disturbing, and our hearts go out to the children and families involved,' he said. 'I am deeply sorry for the unimaginable pain caused to our families and what they are going through, 'Our primary focus right now is on supporting all families who are impacted, as well as our team members in Victoria. 'We are continuing to work with Victoria Police, the Victorian government and other authorities as part of their ongoing investigation and are doing everything we can to give them the best chance of achieving justice for the children and families involved.' Joshua Brown worked at Creative Gardens Early Learning Centre in Point Cook from October 2021 to February 2024: Supplied Credit: Supplied The company has also committed to commissioning an independent review of the incident once the criminal proceedings are concluded, to further strengthen its child safety procedures. G8 said that, while it already has comprehensive child safety policies in place, including banning devices in childcare rooms, mandatory reporting protocols, and ongoing staff training, it recognises the need to go further. Beyond its own network, G8 has called for broader sector reform, including the establishment of a national educator register, a unified Working with Children Check across states, and a national register of early childhood workers employment history. Authorities have released the details of all 20 childcare centres where Brown worked, including the dates of his employment. Parents and caregivers of 1200 children have been directed to have their kids tested for sexually transmitted infections out of an 'abundance of caution'.
