E/CN.4/1998/6/Add.1 page 13 (iii) Places of worship and cemeteries 50. The Jewish community has about 70 synagogues in Australia. No problems are encountered with regard to the construction of places of worship. However, many incidents of vandalism against synagogues and Jewish cemeteries have been reported. These incidents are manifestations of anti-Semitism, apparently committed by small groups, and are contrary to Australia's tradition of tolerance. 51. Apart from reprehensible incidents of anti-Semitism, the situation of the Jewish community with regard to religion is satisfactory. (b) Other areas 52. The Jewish community is fully integrated into Australian society, of which it has been an active part since the arrival of the first settlers and whose public participation in the building of the country, particularly by top political leaders, is recognized. 53. Jewish community representatives said that tolerance and the lack of obstacles to Jewish believers in the economic, political, social, cultural and religious spheres of Australian society made for a very favourable situation compared to that in many other countries. 54. They nevertheless made some requests with regard to the elimination of Christian insignia in public life, including prayers during the opening of Parliament, the official election day on Saturday, which is the Sabbath (being able to vote in advance after filling out a form explaining that it is impossible to vote on Saturday for religious reasons is an option, but it can be a problem for Jewish candidates), and the cross on the national flag. The comments by a HREOC representative that are summarized in paragraphs 36 to 38 in subsection 1 on the “Situation of Muslims” are also relevant and highlight the need to reconcile multiculturalism and the unity of society. 55. With regard to isolated outbreaks of anti-Semitism in the form of attacks on places of worship and cemeteries, as well as verbal and written attacks and extremist political propaganda, many persons with whom the Special Rapporteur spoke said that the Jewish community was well enough structured to report and combat them. The Rabbi of Sydney said that what was involved was not anti-Jewish racism, but xenophobia, and that, paradoxically, such attacks were not an expression of intolerance in Australia. 56. Through its institutions and its leaders' dynamism, the Jewish community thus enjoys a satisfactory situation enabling it to maintain its identity. 3. (a) Situation of Buddhists and Hindus Religious matters (i) Religious practice and conduct of religious affairs 57. Like the Muslim religion, Buddhism and then Hinduism grew very rapidly in Australia, mainly because of large-scale Asian immigration. After Islam, Buddhism is the religion with the highest exponential growth compared to the other religions.