Twenty Sydney mayors have vowed to work together with a goal of creating a stronger, safer and more united society where everyone feels respected and valued following a meeting at the famous Bondi Pavillion on 6 January.
The roundtable discussion was convened by Will Nemesh, a Jewish mayor from Eastern Sydney’s Waverley Council, Ned Mannoun, a Muslim Mayor from Western Sydney’s Liverpool Council and Darcy Byrne, Mayor of Inner West Council, in response to growing concerns about social harmony and the alarming rise of antisemitic attacks.
The trio said the roundtable was to demonstrate the critical role of local government in safeguarding the wellbeing and resilience of communities and show strong leadership on social cohesion.
They said the event provided a platform for Mayors to collaborate on solutions to ensure everyone feels safe and secure. The focus was on proactive measures to strengthen social cohesion, foster unity and address community concerns.
Following the meeting the twenty mayors issued a statement calling on the support of both the New South Wales and Federal Governments to help councils “combat the scourge of antisemitism, and protect all communities from vilification, intimidation, and violence” and “invest in multicultural and interfaith education programs to strengthen understanding and unity between communities.”
“Australia has long been celebrated as a tolerant multifaith and multicultural nation,” Mayor Nemesh said before the meeting.
“However, recent events and especially the escalation of antisemitism is fracturing our social cohesion and making our community feel less safe. We must work together across our diverse communities to combat hatred and division.”
Liverpool mayor Mannon said mayors were uniquely placed to bring communities together.
“By working together all across Sydney, we can build bridges, foster understanding, and create a stronger, united future no matter your postcode,” he said when they first proposed the meeting.
“Across Sydney antisemitic vandalism, graffiti and threats are getting out of control and social cohesion is breaking down,” Mayor Byrne stressed.
He said that’s why they had called on all Mayors and Councils to join them in a grassroots effort to combat extremism and protect our multicultural, multifaith city from growing division.
And the mayors answered the call with the 6 February meeting attended by Zoe Baker, Mayor, North Sydney Council; Elise Borg, Mayor, Georges River Council; Jack Boyd, Mayor, Sutherland Shire Council; Trenton Brown, Mayor, City of Ryde; John-Paul Baladi, Mayor, Strathfield Council; Sarah Swan, Mayor, Woollahra Council; Dr. Michelle Byrne, Mayor, The Hills Shire Council: Brad Bunting, Mayor, Blacktown City Council; Ann Marie Kimber, Mayor, Mosman Council; Edward McDougall, Mayor, Bayside Council; Michael Megna, Mayor, Canada Bay Council; Zac Miles, Mayor, Hunters Hill Council; Dylan Parker, Mayor, Randwick Council; Sue Heins, Mayor, Northern Beaches Council; Tanya Taylor, Mayor, Willoughby ;Warren Waddell, Mayor, Hornsby Shire Council; Martin Zaiter, Lord Mayor, City of Parramatta and Christine Kay, Mayor, Ku-ring-gai Council.
The full statement signed by all 20 mayors.
“We, the Mayors of the following Councils, are united in calling out violence, hatred, and extremism. Our communities are welcoming and connected and made stronger by our diverse views, faiths, backgrounds, cultures and identities. The acts of hate and violence seen across Sydney must be condemned in the strongest terms, while these brazen and cowardly acts require prosecution with the full force of the law.
These criminal acts aim to create fear, chaos and division. We call on our communities to stand together, as we are standing together, to support one another during these challenging times. We unequivocally condemn the alarming rise in antisemitic attacks as well acknowledge the broader escalation of racism and violence against racial and faith-based communities including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists. There is no place for hate in our society.
Sydney is a vibrant and proudly multicultural and multifaith city. Its diverse population is reflected right across the city, creating an inclusive community of which we are proud. Every layer of government and every person in our community has a role to play in maintaining our peaceful harmonious community in Sydney. Local government plays a crucial role in fostering this inclusivity among multicultural communities, where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. We strongly state that local government is for local issues, and that foreign affairs is not the remit or expertise of Councils.
We are committed to being champions of social cohesion and using our leadership and knowledge to combat racism and promote community safety. Our communities deserve to live free from fear and hatred and we will work together to uphold these values and advocate for the support needed to achieve them.
Today, we call on the New South Wales and Federal Governments to take urgent action by:
• Recognising Local Government as a vital tier of Government in creating and maintaining social cohesion;
• Partnering with Councils to combat the scourge of antisemitism, and protect all communities from vilification, intimidation, and violence;
• Investing in multicultural and interfaith education programs to strengthen understanding and unity between communities;
• Enhancing legislation to combat hate crimes and discrimination and ensure stronger protections for all;
• Supporting Local Government to develop anti-racism, inclusion and social cohesion strategies and policies; and
• Providing security infrastructure and resources where needed to safeguard at-risk communities including robust and effective policing, to find and charge perpetrators of hate crimes.
We will continue to collaborate as elected representatives to advocate for our communities, share best practices, coordinate and promote initiatives, activities and community safety. We intend to formalise this work through strategic frameworks. Our goal is to create a stronger, safer and more united society where everyone feels respected and valued.”
