The Executive Council of Aus­trali­an Jewry (ECAJ), the peak rep­res­ent­at­ive body of the Aus­trali­an Jewish community, welcomes the Federal Court judgment in the case involving five Jewish students against their former school, alleging systemic failure to deal with antisemitism at Brighton Secondary College.

“With meagre resources, they took on the might of the Victorian gov­ern­ment and Education Depart­ment to stand up for truth and justice, and they were suc­cess­ful. We know the personal price all of them have paid in sweat and nerves, and the enormous financial sacrifice they have made,” ECAJ president Jillian Segal said.

“This decision will stand as a warning to any students who engage in antisemitic bullying, and to parents, teachers and Education Depart­ments across Australia who fail to act respons­ibly to curb and prevent such behaviour. They will be held to account for their actions,” Ms Segal said.

Ms Segal added: “The time has come for a national antisemitism education program across Aus­trali­an schools to provide resources and support to teachers and parents to under­stand and defeat this form of hatred. Bland, generic state­ments against racism are not enough.

“This case has sent a clear signal that the cost of con­tinu­ing inaction by gov­ern­ments in dealing appro­pri­ately with racism will be far higher than the cost of taking effective action.”