The principal of Melbourne’s Brighton Secondary College, Richard Minack, has stepped down from his role.
The news comes after a Federal Court judge determined Mr Minack failed to protect five of the school’s Jewish students from antisemitic bullying.
The landmark case saw five former students of Victorian public school – Guy Cohen, Joel and Matt Kaplan, Liam Arnold-Levy and Zack Snelling – sue three school staff members and the state of Victoria for negligence and contraventions of the Racial Discrimination Act. Mr Minack was not acting as principal while the matter was before the court.
In September 2023, the court ruled that the state of Victoria must apologise and pay more than $430,000 in compensation to the students, after finding that Mr Minack failed to systemically address antisemitic harassment and bullying. He was also found to have not taken appropriate steps to discourage swastika graffiti.
During the court proceedings, the students detailed being sent Adolf Hitler videos, seeing swastikas graffitied on school property, and being told that their father “must be burnt because he’s a Jew”.
In a letter to the school community, a Victorian Education Department regional director, Ian Burrage, informed parents of Mr Minack’s exit and said current acting principal Leisa Higgins would continue in her role while the school advertised the principal position.
“There is no doubt that there will be many Jewish parents, of past and present students, and those brave young adults who sued BSC and won, who will breathe a sigh of relief …”, said Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich.
He said he hopes Mr Minack’s departure from Brighton Secondary College will mean Jewish students feel able to learn in a safe environment free from religious and racial harassment.
