Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain fights back tears on live TV over Melbourne childcare abuse scandal
In a deeply emotional moment, Ms McBain choked up as she reflected on the impact the alleged crimes would have on families across the country.
It comes after a man was charged with more than 70 offences of child sex abuse in Victoria.
'This is absolutely disgusting,' Ms McBain told Sky News Sunday Agenda.
'I think there are a lot of parents out there who are probably second guessing their thoughts on sending children to childcare, which is not what we want to see.'
Holding back tears, the mother of three shared her own experience of returning to work just months after her first child was born.
'My eldest child, I had to put her into daycare when she was five months old because I needed to get back to work to help us pay off the mortgage,' she said.
'I walked into the baby's room of that childcare centre, really hesitant about giving over care and responsibility for my child to someone else.
'I walked in and I knew two of the three carers that were in there. And I immediately felt a little bit better, but I know that's not the case for a range of parents out there.'
Ms McBain's emotional comments come after 26-year-old Joshua Brown, a former childcare worker, was charged with more than 70 child sex offences.
Some of the children were as young as five months old.
Victoria Police has said Brown, who has worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne since 2017, is accused of sexually penetrating a child under 12.
Other allegations include producing and transmitting child abuse material, and contaminating food with bodily fluids.
More than 1,200 children who may have come into contact with Brown have been urged to undergo STI testing.
The move has fuelled calls from some survivors and advocates for a blanket ban on men working in early childhood education.
Ms McBain did not weigh in on the controversial proposal to exclude male carers but reaffirmed the government's commitment to take action as she described the reports as "every parent's worst nightmare.'
'There'll be a range of measures that will be put in place by our government,' she said in response to a question about banning male carers.
'(Education Minister) Jason Clare has said that he'll bring legislation to the parliament in our first sitting,' she said.
'I just want to assure parents out there that we're going to do everything possible to make sure that those conversations (about abuse) don't have to take place.'
'This sort of thing does pull at your heartstrings… We will work really hard because what we've seen reported, I think, is every parent's worst nightmare.'
Education Minister Jason Clare has pledged urgent reforms, including new legislation allowing fraud investigators to make random, warrantless visits to childcare centres,
The use of CCTV in centres to monitor staff-child interactions has also been proposed as another measure to improve safety.
The broader national response may include reforms to working with children checks and better information sharing between states.
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Perth Now
32 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Shock footage shows anti-Semitic arson
An anti-hate taskforce will assemble in Melbourne this week in the wake of the latest violent anti-Semitic incidents, with shock footage showing a series of arson attacks. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has pulled together the taskforce after a synagogue was firebombed, a Jewish-owned restaurant was stormed while people ate inside, and another business was vandalised; all across this past weekend. Ms Allan made a private visit to the targeted synagogue on Monday, and revealed the state government gave the shule $80,000 for increased security last year. The Premier has tapped the Police Minister, Lord Mayor and police executives for the 'anti-hate' taskforce, Ms Allan's office says. Invitations will go out to representatives of Melbourne's Jewish community. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attacks. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia The front door of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was set on fire on Friday night. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia Speaking outside the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said Jewish Victorians were an important part of the community. 'I'll continue to stand with a strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day. 'They are a big, important part of our community. They demand our support at this most difficult time. 'They demand our action, which is why, alongside strengthening laws and the response of Victoria Police, we will continue to work to build a stronger place where everyone can be who they are and practise their faith safe and free from hate.' In a statement released soon after, Ms Allan detailed the taskforce's first steps. She will request details on how Victoria Police plans to 'operationalise the criminal components' of the new Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act. Ms Allan has also requested an update from the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group, which was set up to support the Jewish community at a local level. The taskforce members will also learn how community consultation and development of legislation is progressing, in a push for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest. At the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said she pledged to the Rabbi that the government would fund mental health support for the people inside during the fire, particularly the children. Ms Allan also revealed the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation received $80,000 from the government for security upgrades in December. 'Free Palestine' was graffitied onto the wall of a restaurant in the Melbourne CBD. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Police spoke to the owners of the popular restaurant. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia 'Places of worship like this synagogue are a part of our fabric as a society,' Ms Allan said. 'We will protect them with everything we've got.' Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she and shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser would travel to the east Melbourne Synagogue on Tuesday. 'Julian Leeser and I will be traveling tomorrow to the east Melbourne synagogue with other Victorian colleagues to meet the Jewish community there and to hear directly from them about the awful, hideous events over the weekend, and to reassure them of our ongoing support, our care and our commitment,' she said. The first of this weekend's three incidents happened at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation at 8pm on Friday as about 20 adults and children worshipped inside. Angelo Loras, 34, from NSW, allegedly poured accelerant on the front door and set fire to the synagogue. Nobody inside was physically injured. Mr Loras was arrested about 24 hours later and has been charged with recklessly endangering life. Police are still assessing whether the incident constituted an act of terrorism. In a separate incident in the CBD on Friday night, an Israeli-owned restaurant was targeted. As people ate, a group of people who had split off from an anti-police violence protest harassed and intimidated diners. This incident happened on busy Hardware Lane. Cars were set alight and vandalised at the business in Melbourne's northeast early on Saturday morning. Supplied Credit: Supplied One of the three cars targeted by arsonists was destroyed. Supplied Credit: Supplied A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons. Police have now released footage of a third incident, this too believed to have anti-Israeli motivations. This act of vandalism happened at a business in the northeast suburb of Greensborough about 4am on Saturday. Police say five people entered the property on Para Rd and set fire to three cars. One of the cars was destroyed. 'The group also used red spray paint to write various slogans on the cars and on a building wall,' a police spokesperson said. Police released footage of the attack early on Monday. It shows masked people setting two cars on fire, while another person spray paints one of the cars. 'While investigators continue to liaise with Counter Terrorism Command to establish if there are any connections to the arson on the synagogue in East Melbourne and a public order incident on Hardware Lane, at this time no links have been identified,' a police spokesperson said. 'There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic behaviour.' Police say this group took off on e-bikes in a south-westerly direction along Plenty River. All were wearing black hoodies, with backpacks and gloves.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Fresh vow to stop anti-Semitism with new taskforce
A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
New taskforce to tackle hate after anti-Semitic attacks
NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents
