NSW Government to heed Jewish needs
A Ministerial Consultative Committee (MCC) for the Jewish community has been established to advise the Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello MP on behalf of the NSW Government on the needs, interests and concerns of Australians of Jewish heritage in NSW.
Sydney Jewish Museum CEO Norman Seligman (L) with Gabrielle Upton (2nd L) and Victor Dominello (R)
The MCC for the Jewish community includes leaders from key Jewish Australian representative bodies, cultural and religious groups, and businesses. The MCC will be jointly chaired on behalf of the Minister by Jonathan O’Dea MP, Member for Davidson, and Gabrielle Upton MP, Member for Vaucluse.
“It is vital to have a strong and structured dialogue between the NSW Government and the Jewish Australian community in NSW, and I am very pleased that the MCC for the Jewish community will further enable that dialogue,” Minister Dominello said.
“The advice of the MCC will be sought in developing policy relevant to the Citizenship and Communities portfolio, suggesting opportunities for leveraging cultural diversity for broader community benefit, and identifying areas for improvement in the delivery and communication of services to the Jewish Australian community in NSW.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government aims for a relationship with the local Jewish Australian community that is based on substance. The creation of MCCs, including for the Jewish community, shows we approach our multicultural communities seriously and with respect,” Minister Dominello said.
Ms Upton said: “In March this year, many NSW citizens with Jewish heritage voted for Liberal or Nationals candidates because we offered them our pledge to restore quality in service delivery and infrastructure provision, regardless of where you live or what your cultural heritage is. The Jewish MCC, which I am honoured to jointly chair, is part of maintaining our commitment to the Jewish Australian community.
“I wish to particularly acknowledge the role of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in the formation of the Jewish MCC,” Ms Upton said.
Mr O’Dea said: “The Jewish MCC is a critical component of having a serious, respectful and meaningful relationship with our local Jewish community. As joint chair, I look forward to its views and ideas, including on how to best recognise the contributions of Australians of Jewish heritage to our diverse and vibrant society.”
The Jewish community’s representatives to the Consultative Committee are: Yair Miller, Yaron Finkelstein, Jeremy Spinak, Roma Shell, Sam Zweig, Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins and Vic Alhadeff.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Yair Miller said: “We congratulate the government on this worthy initiative and thank them for the inclusive manner in which they have gone about setting up this Consultative Committee. We are confident that this will be a productive mechanism for further engagement between the NSW Jewish community and the State Government.”
