Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Jewish community leaders have condemned a planned right-wing protest in Melbourne’s CBD, describing it as “deeply inappropriate” on a national day of reflection marking one week since the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Despite widespread calls for the event to be cancelled, the group Put Australia First is preparing to rally outside Victoria’s Parliament House on Sunday, demanding the Albanese government be “sacked” over the deadly attack that claimed 15 lives.
Australians across the country are observing a day of mourning and reflection to honour the victims of the Bondi massacre, which has shaken the nation and sparked renewed debate over extremism, hate speech and public safety.
Put Australia First, a right-wing group previously linked to anti-mass immigration protests, claims the rally is being held “in solidarity” with the Jewish community. Organisers have described the Bondi attack as an assault on “liberal values, peace and harmony” and, by extension, on all Australians.
However, Jewish leaders have strongly rejected the group’s claims.
Zionism Victoria president Elyse Schachna said a day of reflection following the Bondi tragedy was not an appropriate time for political rallies or protests.
“This should be a moment of reckoning,” she said. “Australians should be reflecting on whether they stayed silent, looked away, or helped normalise extremism — and what each of us must do to ensure the conditions that led to Bondi are never allowed to take hold again.”
Premier Jacinta Allan echoed those concerns, calling the planned protest “deeply inappropriate” and warning against events that risk inflaming division during a time of collective grief.
Organisers have refused to back down, insisting they have the support of “many” within the Jewish community. Previous rallies organised by the group have ended in violence after attracting large numbers of counter-protesters.
Advertising for the Melbourne event lists state Libertarian MP David Limbrick and Morgan Jonas, founder of the fringe Freedom Party, as scheduled speakers. A statement from organisers says speakers will call for “unity and respect” while arguing that radical Islam is incompatible with Australian values.
The controversy comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to introduce new federal offences targeting “aggravated hate speech”, particularly aimed at preachers and leaders who incite violence.
In New South Wales, Premier Chris Minns has announced plans to expand police powers to shut down hateful speech, including banning the slogan “globalise the intifada”, which has been widely used at anti-Israel rallies. Minns described the phrase as hate speech that encourages violence.
Premier Allan said the Victorian government is reviewing proposals from interstate governments, the Commonwealth and community groups, as Jewish leaders push for tougher laws, including bans on calls for intifada and harsher sentencing for hate-fuelled offences.
With multiple rallies planned across Melbourne in the coming days, including an “Anti-Zionism” protest opposing national efforts to combat antisemitism, Allan urged restraint.
“It would be deeply inappropriate for any event that only serves to deepen division, hatred and grief to take place at this time,” she said.
Victoria Police confirmed officers would be present at Sunday’s rally.
“Our top priority will be ensuring the safety of those attending and the broader community,” a police spokesperson said.
