Victorian Minister gets acquainted with the community
Victorian Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Member for South Eastern Metro Inga Peulich has met with Melbourne Jewish community organisations and leaders.
Minister Peulich was accompanied by Liberal State member for Caulfield, David Southwick.
A Lamm Library staff member with David Southwick, Executive Director of the Zionist Council of Victoria Jane Rapke, and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs Inga Peulich.
They visited the Jewish Museum, Maccabi Victoria, the Jewish Holocaust Centre, and Beth Weizmann where the Coalition MPs met with various organisations including the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, the Zionist Council of Victoria, the Community Security Group and the United Jewish Education Board.
A discussion was had of the planned redevelopment of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, a project which received a $500,000 commitment by the Coalition during the 2014 Victorian election which was not met by Labor.
Over the past five years, the Centre has experienced a significant increase in student visitation. 20,000 students from over 750 schools across Victoria now visit annually. Projections indicate a 20-25% increase in numbers over the next five years if capacity of the existing facilities can be increased.
While visiting the Jewish Museum, the Coalition MPs were briefed on the museum’s plans to collaborate with other cultural museums for exhibitions, growing the Jewish community’s work in creating a larger multicultural network.
Other issues raised during the day included the need of greater support for security and community projects, and confusion over Jewish special religious instruction programs in government schools.
Inga Peulich said: “It was fantastic to meet with many Jewish institutions and community bodies to discuss their work and contributions.
I continue to be so impressed with how well organised and represented the Jewish community is through the leadership and advocacy of their community organisations.
Currently there is only confusion and chaos surrounding the future of Jewish instruction programs in government schools, and it’s time the Andrews Government clarifies what their intentions are and whether support exists for the United Jewish Education Board’s outstanding work.”
David Southwick added: “The Jewish Holocaust Centre and their volunteers provide the community and students an opportunity to learn about one of human history’s darkest times. I again call on the government to support a much-needed and important upgrade to our Holocaust Centre.”
