Representatives of the Jewish community reported to an official commission that the increase in antisemitism has forced them to allocate enormous resources to security and even to cancel religious activities
Members of the Community Security Group (CSG) reported that during 2025, volunteers dedicated more than 113,700 hours to security and administrative tasks to protect Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers.
They also warned about the significant psychological strain experienced by those participating in these tasks, due to constant exposure to threats and antisemitic incidents.
One of the volunteers stated that the situation "is not sustainable in the long term", as many people end up performing practically two full-time jobs to ensure the community's safety.
In this context, former Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus urged the Government to consider establishing restrictions on protests outside synagogues, schools, and Jewish community centers, following a model similar to the one already in place in the state of Victoria to prevent protests outside abortion clinics.
He explained that the measure is not intended to limit the right to protest, but to protect the Jewish community from situations that, in some cases, end up resulting in threats or acts of violence.
The growing antisemitism in Australia has begun to have direct consequences on the daily lives of the Jewish community. Representatives from various organizations reported to a Royal Commission of Inquiry that several synagogues were forced to cancel religious services because they could not afford the necessary security costs to protect the worshippers.
During the fifth hearing of the commission, specifically dedicated to the security of the Jewish community, it was revealed that many institutions had to divert financial resources intended for their activities to fund guards, surveillance systems, and other protective measures following the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents recorded since the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Lawyer Richard Lancaster explained to the commission that numerous congregations reported having suspended the traditional Friday night religious services because they could not afford security personnel.
He noted that nearly all the synagogues consulted agreed that a growing part of their time, budget, and organizational effort must be dedicated exclusively to ensuring the safety of their members.
Community representatives warned that the Jewish community faces a permanent dilemma: to strengthen security measures to protect their worshippers, with the risk of being accused of isolating themselves from the rest of society, or to reduce those controls and be exposed to new attacks.
