A Coolum Beach man has been arrested following months of alleged antisemitic graffiti across Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Police have charged the man with 25 counts of wilful damage after he was arrested last week.
It is alleged the 27-year-old spray-painted the antisemitic graffiti onto public property in multiple locations between February and December.
Police believe there could be more graffiti across the region that has not been reported, which could lead to further charges.
The man is expected to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 12.
Sunshine Coast-based Rabbi Oshy Goodman commended police for the arrest.
“I want to thank the police for acting decisively and for taking this seriously — it’s a big deal,” Mr Goodman said.
“We’re very grateful as a community.”
Rabbi Oshy Goodman (centre) has thanked police for making the arrest. (Supplied: Sunshine Coast Council)
Mr Goodman said it was concerning to see antisemitic incidents on the rise across the country.
“Our response as a community can’t just be enforcement, it has to also be about strengthening goodness and decency and education,” he said.
“It is concerning, but at the same time we do see more goodness, neighbours are standing together and people are reaching out in solidarity in incredible numbers, which really does outbalance the hate.
“I think that is the real story of the Sunshine Coast.”
Hate speech reform
The arrest comes days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to reform hate speech laws in the wake of the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack.
Shadow attorney-general and federal member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said he was alarmed by the arrest.
“If he is found to have committed the offences, my hope is that the court throws the book at this individual,” Mr Wallace said.
“I’ve lived on the Sunshine Coast for 32 years and until the Federal election in May this year, I had never seen any kind of antisemitic graffiti.”
Andrew Wallace had several campaign corflutes vandalised with antisemitic symbols during the election this year. (Supplied: Andrew Wallace)
During the election, Mr Wallace had Nazi symbols scrawled across his campaign trailer and corflute signs.
“That’s the first time that has ever happened to me,” Mr Wallace said.
“Where people are identified to have committed these offences, the courts need to send a very strong message to deter others from doing the same.
“It is un-Australian.”