Embedded Files
Media release: City of Melbourne cancels Jewish Israeli woman’s seminar over “potential protest activity”
Anyone can ask an Australian public authority for the documents it holds. We lodge requests through Right to Know, which publishes every request and every reply from the authority automatically, unedited, as it arrives. You can read the correspondence as it happens, and follow any request to get updates by email.
An authority has 30 days from receipt to decide a request (usually, depending on jurisdiction and circumstances).
Melbourne City Council’s cancellation of our Christian Zionism seminar
At 7 pm on Friday 19 June 2026, the City of Melbourne telephoned to cancel a confirmed, paid booking at Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, two days before the event. It was a free public seminar on Christian Zionism, given by Veronica Sherman, a Jewish Israeli woman. It was the sixth in a series, and Council acknowledged in writing that the first five had already been held at the same venue without incident. Council cited “safety and security concerns” it has not explained, after “matters raised with councillors and senior management”, and it did not ask for security at the hirer’s cost or any of the other measures available under its own terms of hire.
Council has since given a number of explanations, at public meetings and in writing. These three requests, all lodged on 25 August 2026, ask Council to produce the documents behind them:
Internal documents leading up to Council’s decision — lodged by Nachshon Amir, who made and paid for the booking. Covers Council’s own records from 7 April to 22 June 2026, from the day the booking was confirmed to the days after it was cancelled, including the risk analysis, the advice, the Delegate Report, and the instruction to cancel.
External communications leading up to Council’s decision — lodged by Veronica Sherman, the speaker. Covers the same period and asks for the “representations” Council has described: who contacted Council about this booking, what they asked for, and what Council said back, along with its dealings with Victoria Police.
Council’s handling of questions about its decision — lodged by Stefano Perfili, who asked questions at Council meetings. Covers 20 June to 25 August 2026 and asks for the records behind Council’s answers to public questions and to complaints and correspondence about the cancellation.
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