Ending the “Tax on Jewish Identity”: A Call for Action Ahead of Australia’s Anti-Semitism Inquiry

As Australia prepares for its Royal Commission into anti-Semitism, a clear message is emerging from within the Jewish community: the current situation cannot continue.

Bialik College principal Jeremy Stowe-Lindner is set to present a focused three-point plan to the inquiry. His proposal is grounded in lived experience and highlights a confronting reality. Being visibly Jewish in Australia today often comes with an added cost, described as a “tax on Jewish identity.”

The Reality Behind the “Tax”

For many families, this “tax” is not symbolic. It is financial, emotional and deeply personal.

Parents are contributing hundreds of dollars each year toward school security. In some cases, this exceeds $800 annually, and the cost continues to rise.

The impact extends far beyond finances.

Children are being advised not to wear school uniforms in public because of the risk of harassment. Everyday activities such as taking public transport, attending events or dining out require increased awareness and planning. Families describe scanning rooms for exits and thinking through escape strategies as part of normal behaviour.

One parent shared that even young children have already witnessed antisemitic abuse, including verbal attacks in public.

This represents a significant change in how people experience daily life.

A National Gap in Understanding

Australia has never conducted a national inquiry focused specifically on antisemitism and the lived experiences of Jewish Australians.

The Royal Commission aims to address this gap.

For the Jewish community, this moment is about safety, dignity and the ability to live openly. For the broader public, it is an opportunity to listen, understand and engage with experiences that have often gone unrecognised.

A more inclusive and secure society depends on both.

Three Priorities for Change

Jeremy Stowe-Lindner’s submission outlines three key priorities.

1. End the Financial Burden of Security

The responsibility for protecting communities should not fall on families.

Security at schools, synagogues and community spaces is essential. At present, much of this cost is privately funded. The proposal calls for governments to take responsibility for consistent, year-round protection.

2. Criminalise Harmful Language and Chants

Language has consequences.

Phrases such as “globalise the intifada” are widely experienced within the Jewish community as threatening and, in some interpretations, a call to violence. These concerns are often dismissed or minimised.

Stowe-Lindner argues that if any other minority group identified language as harmful, the response would be to listen and learn. The same standard should apply in this context.

3. Embed Clear Definitions of Antisemitism

Clarity is necessary for accountability.

The proposal recommends embedding the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into professional codes of conduct across sectors such as education and healthcare.

“Being a professional comes with a responsibility,” Stowe-Lindner has said, highlighting a gap between expectation and practice.

A shared definition would provide a framework for identifying and addressing antisemitic behaviour in workplaces and institutions.

Listening to Lived Experience

Real people and real experiences are central to this issue.

Families are adapting their routines. Children are encountering hate at a young age. These stories demonstrate the urgency of the situation. The Royal Commission provides an opportunity for these voices to be heard and taken seriously.

Community leaders have warned that when hatred becomes normalised and moves into the mainstream, the consequences can escalate.

A Turning Point

The inquiry represents an important moment for Australia.

It offers a chance to move from awareness to action and to ensure that no community carries an unfair burden because of its identity.

Ending the “tax on Jewish identity” is about more than policy. It reflects a broader commitment to safety, respect and inclusion for all.