Latest news with #NicholasReece
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Renewed pressure on governments to address anti-semitism
It's been seven months since criminals destroyed a synagogue in Melbourne with an accelerant-fuelled blaze that injured a worshipper. Now, there's been another attack - this time at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, its front doors burned on a Friday night by a man who allegedly poured a flammable liquid over them and set them alight. It's a place of worship federal Berowra MP Julian Leeser knows well. "I've been - visited that congregation and had Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Dobot Gutnick and his family. It's a synagogue where I went to a wedding last year, a moment of great joy for that community. It's a synagogue that bespeaks the rich and long history of the Jewish people in this country. There's even a prayer for the king there that goes back to Queen Victoria's time in both Hebrew and English." Around 20 worshippers sharing a meal to mark the Shabbat Jewish day of rest evacuated through a rear door after the fire began, and no-one was injured. But synagogue president Danny Segal and his wife Jenny says it could have ended very differently. DANNY: "Somebody saw smoke and some passersby rung the bell." JENNY: "And we could see something - otherwise we wouldn't have known what was going on." Australian political figures have been unanimous in their denunciation of the incident, including Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece. "These criminal acts against a Melbourne synagogue and an Israeli business are absolutely shocking and I condemn them in the strongest possible terms." There's also been strong words from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who says it was a cowardly attack. "It is to be hoped that the perpetrator is brought to justice urgently and they faces the full force of the law, and anyone involved in this attack faces the full force of the law." A man has already been arrested over the Melbourne synagogue attack and is now before the courts. The wider concern for the police - and political leaders - is that the alleged arson was not an isolated incident. So says Daniel Aghion, President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. "This is the tenth firebombing that the Australian Jewish community has experienced in the last 12 months." The alleged arson at the Melbourne synagogue was also one of at least four incidents in the Victorian capital over the last weekend alone. Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters, with the group chanting "death to the IDF" - the Israel Defence Forces. Photographer Joshua Stanyer was there. "People made a decision to begin to disperse because obviously people were about to be arrested. And then while they were leaving, some protesters were flipping tables and throwing chairs, but by that point all the diners had cleared out." Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with antisemitic messages and set them alight outside at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast, while in a fourth incident, stencils were used to spraypaint offensive images on pillars and walls near a Holocaust museum in Elsternwick. The group behind the restaurant incident has condemned the fire attack. They say their actions were a protest against restaurant part-owner and Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesperson for the US backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation which has been heavily criticised for its aid distribution operations. The protesters say it's cheap and irresponsible to link their actions with the arson incident. Still, Rabbi Dovid Gutnick says the Jewish community is reeling from everything that has happened, and argues that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hateful acts. "I'm glad that they've made quick progress on this. But against that is a wider story that there is this slightly permissive attitude around this type of attack at the moment." These concerns are not limited to Victoria. In New South Wales, Jewish school principals have told a parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism that their security teams now resemble counter-terrorism squads in an effort to keep students safe. Moriah College principal Miriam Hasofer says her school has repeatedly been targeted and is now spending $3.9 million a year on security, an 86 per cent increase compared with security spending before the Israel-Hamas conflict began. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the government is doing everything it can to bring the temperature down. He says he considers the Melbourne synagogue incident an attack on Australia too. "As you see people become braver with their bigotry, we need to remember intersecting this at the first possible moment is one of the kindest things you can do and one of the things that is most consistent with who we are as a nation." Melbourne Mayor Nicholas Reece says part of his focus going forward will be on police responses. He's already confirmed he's working with Victoria Police and the state government to examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. But groups like the Jewish Council of Australia say it would be reckless and unfair to target legitimate protests and link them with acts they say ARE antisemitic, acts they've described as vile and heartbreaking. Acting Commander Zorka Dunstan from Victoria Police says in the meantime, detectives are yet to declare the synagogue incident an act of terrorism. "At the moment, we are categorising it as a serious criminal incident and responding accordingly." Leaders from Australia's Muslim communities have also weighed in. The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, has told SBS Arabic urgent action is necessary to ensure all places of worship are protected. "The threat wasn't limited to the Jewish synagogue — mosques have also been targeted in the past. Just as we are committed to protecting our own beliefs, we have a responsibility to act swiftly to safeguard the beliefs and places of worship of others. I also call for the teaching, understanding, and protection of all religious beliefs." That's a call echoed by Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal. She wants to see antisemitism training to reduce societal ignorance about the issue. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a statement calling for a tough response, while the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has urged the government to adopt a 15 point action plan that includes a national task force to clamp down on antisemitism. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has also demanded Anthony Albanese coordinate a national response. "What about national cabinet? Why isn't he convening national cabinet and bringing the states together with urgency to address this issue?" At the state level, in Victoria, a new anti-hate taskforce has already been set up, which Premier Jacinta Allan says will have the responsibility of tackling what she's called the "bigger picture". The Premier has also indicated she has not forgotten her earlier promise to ban 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. That legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. "I will not rest - will not rest - and will continue to take every action necessary - to not just strengthen the law but to respond and lead, in terms of how we as a community need to act. To say very, very clearly that acts of hate, acts of violence, acts of antisemitism have no place here in Melbourne and Victoria." The Victorian government has also announced plans to bolster mental health support services for the community in response to these incidents, as some members of the public - like Melbourne resident Jane Austin - openly express their worry. "I just feel that - I don't fully understand the politics and the history but just from a human perspective, it's just tragedy. I just feel really sad." The Victorian Premier has sought to reassure those concerns. "And if I can share something that Rabbi Gutnick shared with us today which he shared with his congregation on Saturday morning as well, he said, 'Out of this negative experience is the opportunity to springboard forward to a stronger, positive future. And if you consider just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule - but it was stopped - so too must we put a stop to hate.' "
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Melbourne mayor pleads with Tottenham to backtrack on Ange Postecoglou sacking
The mayor of Melbourne has implored Tottenham to reconsider their decision to sack Aussie countryman Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou was dismissed last week just 16 days after leading Spurs to the Europa League, with it determined that a first trophy in 17 years was not enough to redeem the Aussie after a dismal domestic season. Thomas Frank looks near certain to succeed Postecoglou in the Spurs hot seat, with only the matter of compensation fee yet to be agreed with Brentford. This news will be to the displeasure of Melbourne mayor Nicholas Reece, who took to social media to plead with Spurs to backtrack on their dismissal and reinstate Postecoglou. 'On behalf of the people of Melbourne, and Premier League fans around the world, I call on Tottenham Hotspur to reconsider its decision to sack coach Ange Postecoglou,' said Reece in a post on Instagram. 'In Melbourne we have followed Ange's career closely for decades. 'Never underestimate Ange's determination to win, and his ability to carry teams to greatness. We have seen this time again over his career. This year Tottenham made history by winning the Europa League trophy — its first such win in 17 years. We will see further trophies if Ange is given the chance. 'Don't let Tottenham be known as the team that is allergic to silverware. Let Ange lead the players onto greatness in next year's Premier League campaign.' Postecoglou, who grew up in Melbourne, spent much of his playing career at South Melbourne FC and was later their head coach between 1996 and 2000. The 59-year-old also led Australia to the World Cup in 2014 and remains a popular figure both within and beyond the city of Melbourne.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Daniel Levy urged to make shock U-turn and re-hire Ange Postecoglou after bizarre statement from Australian official
The Lord Mayor of Melbourne has urged Daniel Levy to reconsider his decision to sack Ange Postecoglou after sharing a passionate statement on social media. On Friday Tottenham released a statement to announce that Postecoglou had been relieved of his duties 16 days after he led the club to their first silverware since 2008. Victory in Bilbao served as a glorious conclusion to what had been an otherwise disastrous campaign for the north London club. In a season in which his squad was ravaged by slew of injuries, further compounded by a congested fixture list, Spurs suffered 22 league defeats, a club record in a 38-game season. However, despite the worrying domestic form, many feel as though Postecoglou was hard done by - including Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece. On Tuesday night, Reece said: 'On behalf of the people of Melbourne, and Premier League fans around the world, I call on Tottenham Hotspur FC to reconsider its decision to sack coach Ange Postecoglou. 'In @cityofmelbourne we have followed Ange's career closely for decades. He began his junior and senior career in Melbourne as a player and later coach at @southmelbournefc in the 1980s. 'Never underestimate Ange's determination to win, and his ability to carry teams to greatness. We have seen this time again over his career. 'This year Tottenham made history by winning the Europa League trophy - its first such win in 17 years. We will see with further trophies follow if Ange is given the chance. 'Don't let Tottenham be known as the team that is allergic to silverware. Let Ange lead the players onto greatness in next years Premier League campaign.' Despite his passionate message, the club are pushing forward in their search to replacement the Australian and are closing in on appointing Thomas Frank. Mail Sport understands that Spurs have made a formal approach for the Dane – and that an unveiling could take place in the coming days. Frank has a release clause thought to be around £10m, but those with knowledge of the situation believe it is heading towards a positive conclusion and that Frank will soon be announced as successor to Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked on Friday. Negotiations have now started, with chairman Daniel Levy representing Tottenham and Phil Giles, Brentford's director of football, in talks. Aside from the release fee, discussions are also likely to focus on Frank's backroom staff, and the level of compensation needed to allow them to follow him from west to north London. The Bees will demand suitable recompense for a manager whom has been with the club for close to a decade and who has overseen a period of remarkable success. Frank arrived at the club in 2016 as assistant head coach and was appointed manager in 2018. In his first full season in charge he led them to the play-off final and followed it up with promotion to the Premier League. Over the past four years he has firmly established Brentford as a top-flight club.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Tottenham asked to reinstate Ange Postecoglou as head coach by Melbourne mayor
The mayor of one of Australia's biggest cities has asked Tottenham Hotspur to 'reconsider' their decision to sack head coach Ange Postecoglou, adding they risk being 'known as the team that is allergic to silverware'. The 59-year-old Postecoglou, who was born in Greece but grew up in Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria, was relieved of his duties by Tottenham on Friday after two seasons at the helm. Advertisement He led Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years when they won the Europa League on May 21 but oversaw a league campaign that ended with a 17th-place finish and 22 losses, both record lows for the club in the Premier League era. Postecoglou spent the majority of his playing career with South Melbourne FC — a club founded by Greek immigrants and originally known as South Melbourne Hellas — and was head coach of the team between 1996 and 2000. After leading Australia at the 2014 World Cup and winning the 2015 Asian Cup as head coach of the national team, Postecoglou remains popular in his home city and nation, with Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece even taking the step to publicly urge Tottenham to reverse their decision. 'On behalf of the people of Melbourne, and Premier League fans around the world, I call on Tottenham Hotspur to reconsider its decision to sack coach Ange Postecoglou,' said Mr Reece in a post on Instagram. 'In Melbourne we have followed Ange's career closely for decades. 'Never underestimate Ange's determination to win, and his ability to carry teams to greatness. We have seen this time again over his career. This year Tottenham made history by winning the Europa League trophy — its first such win in 17 years. We will see further trophies if Ange is given the chance. 'Don't let Tottenham be known as the team that is allergic to silverware. Let Ange lead the players onto greatness in next year's Premier League campaign.' Mr Reece is a member of Australia's Labor Party and assumed his role in July 2024, before retaining it in the 2024 Melbourne City Council election. Tottenham are yet to confirm Postecoglou's replacement. The Athletic reported on Monday that the club had contacted Brentford as they seek to reach an agreement to appoint Thomas Frank as head coach. ()
ABC News
11-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
City of Melbourne blames state and Commonwealth for stalled Greenline development on the Yarra River
The City of Melbourne's plan to revitalise the Yarra River has stalled, with the council blaming a lack of funding from the state and Commonwealth governments. The Greenline project — which drew comparisons to New York's popular High Line elevated parkway — was announced in 2022 by the then-Lord Mayor Sally Capp. It was touted as transforming the northern bank of the Yarra, with boardwalks and parks, along with floating wetlands and native insect, bird and fish habitats, stretching from Birrarung Marr to the Bolte Bridge. The council said the project incorporated the culture and heritage of the area's traditional owners while meeting the community's calls to improve amenities and the health of the river. Last year's City of Melbourne budget revealed the $316 million project had only been allocated $27 million over four years. On Tuesday night, the council's draft 2025-26 budget will include just $18 million to allow for the completion of the Birrarung Marr stage, which includes the wetlands outside Melbourne's aquarium. But Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece is adamant the project is not dead. "I'm a greater supporter of the Greenline project and it is going to continue," Mr Reece said on Sunday. The Seafarers Rest Park and the Collins Wharf redevelopment in Docklands were also expected to be completed with private funding from developers. But Cr Reece said Greenline had failed to receive crucial state and Commonwealth funding. "We have reallocated some funds in our budget which had been earmarked to be matching funding with other governments, so we can direct those funds to other priority needs across the city." Cr Reece said the money would be diverted to a new North Melbourne community hub and Southbank library. A council spokesperson said the City of Melbourne would continue to "advocate strongly" for additional funding for the future stages of the Greenline project. The council insisted its business case indicated it would create thousands of jobs, attract tourists and be worth millions of dollars to the local economy. But the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Comittee of Melbourne said the money was better spent elsewhere. "We know we've got a lot of fantastic events and facilities already within the city that attracts a lot of people," said the committee's chief executive Scott Veenker. "Was this one of the real pressing or burning platform initiatives that needed to be delivered? We just didn't believe that was the case at this point in time. "Our members say they want a city that's safe and has really good amenity and is accessible as well and I just didn't feel as if Greenline should have been the number one priority for the local government going forward." The ABC spoke to people visiting Melbourne's CBD on Sunday, with all saying they were disappointed the Greenline project may not go ahead. "It kind of looked cool in the pictures … maybe we can still resurrect that plan or maybe it can get up in another three or four years when the right people and circumstances come to power so we can do good things," one man said. "Oh damn", a cyclist responded when the ABC told him the future of the project was in doubt. "I'm sorry to hear that, that would have been wonderful. I have been to the one in New York and it's amazing." A woman said she believed it would have benefited residents, the environment and the aesthetic of the city "I really support greenlines and Melbourne is such a beautiful city, why not augment that wonderful leafy image that we have. "Reinstate that funding." Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts, Harriet Shing, said the project was not a priority for the state government. "Any matters around the Greenline are matters that are best directed to the City of Melbourne," she said.
