Mayor Nicholas Rees reports removal of up to 1,000 anti‑Semitic posters in Melbourne

Mayor Nicholas Rees appeared before the Royal Commission on Monday to detail the city’s crackdown on anti‑Semitic graffiti and propaganda.

He disclosed that, since the initiative began, officials have taken down between 800 and 1,000 pieces of hateful material, collectively occupying close to 4,000 square metres of public and private surfaces.

Rees explained that the surge in such content followed the Oct 7 Hamas offensive against Israel, which he said strained the social fabric of Melbourne, a city home to the nation’s largest Jewish population.

Two years ago, the council introduced a 24‑hour hotline that lets residents report offensive material instantly, with a contractual obligation for removal crews to act within an hour of notification.

The mayor emphasized that the swift eradication of these symbols is essential for maintaining community confidence and deterring future hate‑filled acts.