Bruce Hill

Melbourne

Senior Journalist at Australian Jewish News

Senior journalist at the Australian Jewish News after a 25 year career reporting on the Pacific Islands for Australian and New Zealand radio. Jew and Zionist.

Featured in: Favicon

australianjewishnews.com Favicon

abc.net.au Favicon

smh.com.au Favicon

zdnet.com

thenewdaily.com.au Favicon

sail-world.com Favicon

yachtsandyachting.com Favicon

acs.org

israelnationalnews.com Favicon

lowyinstitute.org + 1 more

Articles

Zeddy Lawrence steps down as Zionism Vic exec director

1 week ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Zeddy Lawrence, the executive director of Zionism Victoria, has announced his departure from the organisation after successfully elevating its profile both within and beyond the Jewish community. Lawrence, a former editor of the Australian Jewish News, cited multiple factors influencing his decision to step down. “I think it was a coalescence of three things. One, my contract was coming up for renewal. Two, there was a new board appointed at the end of last year.
Antisemitism row costs environmental group $285,000

1 week ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

The Ballarat City Council has upheld its decision to terminate a $285,000 grant to a local environmental organisation after the group initially refused to remove a board member who made antisemitic statements on social media. Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions (BREAZE) lost the funding on February 20 when it declined to remove board member Mary Debrett, who had posted controversial statements deemed antisemitic by the council.
Thousands March in Melbourne Nakba Day Rally

2 weeks ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Several thousand demonstrators participated in a “River to the Sea” Nakba Day march from Melbourne’s CBD to St Kilda beach on Sunday afternoon, while a small group of counter-protesters faced threats and verbal confrontations on Princes Bridge. The Lions of Zion group, numbering fewer than 50, gathered on the bridge over the Yarra River and were surrounded by a police cordon as the much larger pro-Palestinian march passed by.
Adass Israel welcomes firefighters at Lag b'Omer

3 weeks ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

The Adass Israel community welcomed firefighters who responded to last December’s firebombing of their shul as special guests at their Lag b’Omer celebrations in Elsternwick on Thursday night. Several hundred community members gathered to sing and dance around the traditional bonfire, with firefighters from Fire Rescue Victoria not only attending but joining in the celebrations.
Southwick ejected from Parliament for refusing to apologise to Greens MP

3 weeks ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Liberal MP David Southwick was removed from the Victorian Parliament for 90 minutes on Thursday after refusing to apologise to Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri over comments relating to her stance on Israel. The Member for Caulfield was ejected from the chamber following his refusal to withdraw statements made about the Richmond MP in a Notice of Motion.
Melbourne community cautioned about "Nakba Day" March

3 weeks ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Melbourne’s Jewish community has been urged to exercise caution as a pro-Palestinian “Nakba Day” march plans to conclude at St Kilda Beach this Sunday. The demonstration, organised by Free Palestine Melbourne, will cover a 6km route starting at the State Library at midday before proceeding to St Kilda Beach via Princes Bridge and the US Consulate.
Jewish led group helps unseat independent MP

3 weeks ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Two Melbourne Jewish mothers who launched the “Repeal the Teal” grassroots campaign are celebrating victory. The group targeted two Melbourne seats held by Teal independents, Goldstein and Kooyong The campaign, spearheaded by J-United’s Simonne Whine and Sharon Kuper, believes they helped to defeat independent MP Zoe Daniel in the key electorate of Goldstein during the recent federal election. The former MP Tim Wilson managed to win his old seat back.
Victoria government's LEAH group tackles antisemitism

1 month ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

The Jacinta Allan government’s Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group aimed at tacking antisemitism is now fully operational across Victoria. The state government said this represents a significant step forward in addressing rising antisemitism through coordinated action between government and Jewish community organisations. Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) CEO Naomi Levin highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting it fulfils a critical need identified by community leaders.
Hitler graffiti swiftly removed

1 month ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Anti-Semitic graffiti depicting Adolf Hitler was promptly removed from a railway bridge near Dandenong and Normanby Road in Caulfield after swift action by Glen Eira Council and local police. The offensive stencil was reported via social media on 1 May and removed within 20 minutes of authorities being notified. Caulfield Police station Commander, Senior Sergeant Al Farrell, said, “Glen Eira Council were kind enough to negotiate with VicTrack to take primacy of the clean up”.
Burns credits solid policies for Macnamara victory

1 month ago | australianjewishnews.com | Bruce Hill

Labor’s Josh Burns has attributed his successful re-election in the Melbourne seat of Macnamara to his party’s focus on everyday issues that matter to voters, rather than preference deals or political manoeuvring. There was a 1.2 per cent swing to Labor in Victoria, but Burns achieved a much stronger 5.5 per cent swing and came top in primary votes. Many Jewish voters appear to have voted tactically for Burns to keep the Greens from winning the seat.