National

Relationship between police and Jewish security probed

By Melissa Meehan

Jul 24, 2026

Liberal MP Julian Lesser — Julian Lesser will detail the rising tide of hate speech at the anti-Semitism royal commission. -AAP Image

The relationship between police and Jewish security groups is set to be examined after calls for governments to entirely fund the community's security needs.

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Across a fifth round of hearings in Melbourne this week, the anti-Semitism royal commission has been told the financial burden of Jewish safety in Australia is largely being worn by families, schools, places of worship and community groups.

Liberal MP Julian Lesser, whose persistent lobbying was instrumental to establishing the landmark inquiry, will appear before the commission on Friday to detail the rising tide of hate speech and its impact on the community.

Government funding since 2023 covered about half of total security costs spent by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the commission was told on Thursday.

The peak body for the Jewish community was granted $25 million in federal funding for security in 2023 to allocate to community organisations, places of worship and events.

Mr Leeser will be joined by Tahli Blicblau, the chief of The Dor Foundation, an Australian non-for-profit organisation dedicated to combating anti-Semitism and strengthening social cohesion.

Ms Blicblau has an extensive background in intelligence and counter-terrorism, including a senior role at the NSW Crime Commission.

Their testimonies will help shape the royal commission's understanding of the police data collection processes relevant to assessing risk to the Jewish community and the role of emergency preparedness and resilience training.

Others speaking at the inquiry on Friday include AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt and Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien of Victoria Police's Crime and Counter Terrorism Investigation Services.

The commission earlier heard a firebombed synagogue was unable to secure government grants to boost security in the years prior to the blaze.

Two buildings belonging to the Adass Israel Synagogue, at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast, were gutted in a blaze on December 6, 2024.

The royal commission was called after 15 people were killed and dozens more injured when two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah event at Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 14 last year.

Hearings in Melbourne this week are probing security risk assessments and the relationship between law enforcement agencies and Jewish security groups.