New Melbourne Mayor Pledges Safety Amid Ongoing Social Tension

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece speaks to media at Melbourne Town Hall in Melbourne, Australia on Aug. 22, 2024. AAP Image/Joel Carrett

New City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece has pledged to make safety a priority, committing to rolling out more CCTV cameras and safety officers.

Reece’s promise comes as the city grapples with ongoing youth crime issues, as well as social tensions surrounding the war in the Middle East.

The mayor, who comfortably won the City of Melbourne election in November, said the New Year would see him deliver on his pre-election commitment.

“In the recent election there was no one running harder on city safety than me. And now that I have been elected, I am going to make good on that,” he told The Epoch Times.

“One of my commitments was an extra 200 CCTV cameras around the city. I also committed to introducing new city safety officers to be an additional safety presence on the street.

“That [CCTV cameras] will be something we’ll look to consider as part of our budget process this year, and I’ll have to talk to my councilor colleagues about that as well.”

City Grappling With Social Tension

Last month, the Adass Israel Synagogue was firebombed in an incident later categorised by authorities as a “terrorist” incident.

Damage is seen following a firebombing at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 9, 2024. AAP Image/Yumi Rosenbaum

Also, on New Years Day, reports emerged that a pro-Palestine protestor spat on a Starbucks employee during a New Year’s Eve demonstration along Swanston Street in the Melbourne CBD.

Starbucks has been boycotted by pro-Palestine activists for its alleged links to Israel.

Further in September, about 1,200 activists fortified and attempted to disrupt the Land Forces 2024 expo in Melbourne, which focuses on the defence industry.

Police were pelted with rocks, horse manure, and bottles filled with liquid as they tried to protect attendees.

The protest was organised by the Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars group. Multiple people were later arrested for offences including assault, arson, and blocking roadways.

It was the largest police operation in Melbourne since 2000, when the city hosted the World Economic Forum.

Community Leaders Call for Action Against Racism

Meanwhile, hundreds of Jewish residents from across the city’s suburbs congregating in Federation Square to celebrate the Chanukah–Pillars of Light festival over five days from Dec. 26-30.

A wide range of public speakers participated, including new Victoria Liberal leader Brad Battin.

Never Again Is Now co-founder Mark Leach and founder of the Pillars of Light festival, Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, also spoke, emphasising that the Jewish community would not stop celebrating its culture.

“People are strong and resilient. They’re unhappy with the rise in antisemitism, but they will not be relegated to their houses to practice [their religion] privately,” Rabbi Kaltmann told The Epoch Times.

“They’re very proud of their Judaism, and they are showing it by coming to the CBD and celebrating.”

An image of the Melbourne CBD with Flinders Street Station and Yarra River in the foreground taken from Southbank in Victoria, Australia. A. Ming/The Epoch Times

Rabbi Kaltmann said he felt both the Victorian and federal governments would have learned valuable lessons in the aftermath of the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue.

He added that if a similar attack was to occur this year, lawmakers would be ready to respond swiftly.

“Looking to 2025, I do see them being strong, and there being action and leadership from the state and federal governments,” he said.

“I’m very confident that there will be serious action against antisemitism, but in general against racism.”

Leach said it was also up to each individual to promote peace and tolerance towards other groups.

“I think the vast majority of Australians understand the nature of the evil that we’re facing, and the kind of civilisation and culture that we want,” he told The Epoch Times.

“This is not a new thing. The tragedy is the people who hate the Jews on the far left and the far right, it’s always been there.

“The firebombing of the synagogue I think was a bit of a wake-up call for a lot of Aussies.”

Reece to Work Closely with Victoria Police

Victoria Police personnel have been locked in a long-running pay dispute with the Allan Labor government, and last week the Fair Work Commission ruled against intervening.

This forced Victoria Police and the Police Association of Victoria back to the negotiation table.

Mayor Reece said he would hold regular meetings with Victoria Police to boost faltering morale, while praising them for keeping revelers safe on New Year’s Eve.

“I’m doing regular meetings with Victoria Police, and just making sure we’re conducting our safety activities in a better way as well,” he said.

“I think things are working. There were more stabbings in Blairgowrie [in the Mornington Peninsula] than there were in Melbourne on New Years Eve.

“We had 550,000 people here on the biggest night of the year, and it was pretty much without incident.

“That’s incredible. That shows a city that’s on the right track.”