Australia synagogues forced to cancel services, divert funds to cover security costs

Australian synagogues are canceling services and diverting funds to cover security costs, Jewish community representatives informed the Royal Commission. Richard Lancaster, counsel assisting the commission, stated that synagogues have canceled Friday night services because they "couldn't afford to pay a guard." The Community Security Group (CSG) Victoria reported a significant increase in incident reports since October 7, leading to a surge in volunteer hours. A CSG member, ACS, highlighted the psychological toll on security workers, noting, "Long term it's not sustainable." Former Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus urged the government to restrict protests outside synagogues, similar to existing restrictions around abortion clinics, to "protect Jews" from potential violence.