David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 7 December 2025, I wrote to the Minister for Home Affairs seeking urgent funding for critical upgrades at the National Jewish Memorial Centre. The centre has had these upgrades costed at just over $100,000. Noting that the government has been working on various priority measures over the Christmas and New Year period, can the minister update the Senate on the status of that request and whether a decision has now been made?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Pocock, for the question. I will come to the specific point in a moment, but it's worth reminding the chamber that, since the Bondi attack, the Prime Minister has announced several measures to support the Jewish community to the value of $102 million, and those measures are designed to enhance the safety of Australia's Jewish community, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to addressing antisemitism.

The National Jewish Memorial Centre you've asked about has previously received funding through different pathways. I'm aware that Senator Gallagher, in her role as senator for the ACT as well as finance minister, has been working very closely with the organisation concerned about potentially accessing further funding. I recognise the letter that you've written, Senator Pocock, and, as I say, Senator Gallagher has been very active on this issue, including meeting with the organisation again, as I understand, yesterday. The development of a grant opportunity towards additional security funding is being prioritised and organisations will be able to apply for additional funding when announced. The intention would be that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry would administer this funding when it's available.

The government, well before the Bondi attack, had expended significant funds, rightly, to strengthen security around synagogues, Jewish schools and other Jewish institutions. We've made additional commitments in that regard since the Bondi attack. Clearly, it's the case that a range of senators have been advocating—whether it be you, Senator Pocock, Senator Gallagher or, no doubt, many others—and we will continue to consider those applications.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, first supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister. As you said, there has been funding before the Bondi terror attack. My understanding is that they asked for money for this and it was denied. Given there's now $104 million on the table, can you give any indication? Surely these are the upgrades that are actually urgent. We have a community asking for money. There's money on the table. Why has there been no answer over the last month?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Pocock. I understand that, in terms of previous requests for funding from this organisation, two of the three items that they requested funding for were approved. Without in any way attributing blame here, the decisions as to how funds should be expended previously and which organisations should receive those funds were made at arm's length from government. Our role was to provide the funding and set up a process for those decisions to be made independently. There were no doubt good reasons for the decisions that were made previously about which elements of that funding were approved and which ones were not. But we understand the very genuine request that has been made by the organisation, supported by you and supported by Senator Gallagher, and we'll no doubt have more to say about that before too long.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, second supplementary?

David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, given the heightened security risks facing Jewish institutions and given the relatively modest cost of this upgrade—there's $100 million on the table—what is the process? When will the decision be made? Who makes the decision? When will this money actually flow? People see big amounts being pledged, and then on the ground they're asking, 'Well, where is this money given the urgency?'

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Obviously, there needs to be a process to determine where that funding will go. We should remember that it is relatively soon after that horrific attack on 14 December. The government has acted with urgency previously in providing funding under previous rounds, and we'll certainly be doing that again now that we've announced additional funding.

Senator Gallagher has advised me that she provided some advice yesterday to this organisation about how they could strengthen their application and how they could consider undertaking a full assessment of the site for its risk, rather than the particular part of the site that they have been particularly interested in. I understand the organisation has taken that feedback on board and intends to have that work done, so we look forward to receiving that application, as we do from a number of other organisations. It's certainly our commitment to provide Jewish Australians with the security that they deserve.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Pocock, I'm advised Senator Lambie has given you her questions, so I will call you again.