Australia allocates $178 million for community security funding

The Australian government is announcing a new plan to boost social cohesion with a budget of $178.4 million over five years. This funding will help various multicultural communities, including Jewish and Muslim groups. A portion of the funding will focus on improving security at places of worship for both Jewish and Muslim communities. Recently, there have been security threats to mosques, highlighting the need for additional protection. For instance, a man in Sydney made a serious threat concerning a local mosque. Specifically, around $30 million is allocated to restore the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, which suffered damage from a firebombing last year. This funding will also assist in restoring important religious artifacts. Additionally, the Holocaust Institute in Western Australia will receive $2 million for upgrades to its education center. The government plans to spend $4 million to support health programs in the occupied Palestinian territories through the Project Rozana Foundation. There is also funding for refugee employment programs and mental health services for those affected by the ongoing conflict in the region. Other initiatives include $15 million for a new sports hub and $10 million for independent multicultural media outlets. Moreover, the Chinese community will receive $2.2 million for museum restorations, while African Australian organizations will get $20 million to enhance their advocacy efforts.