City of Sydney’s BDS push: a divisive distraction in a time of crisis

The City of Sydney’s controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)-linked motion is set to come before the full council on February 17, 2025, following a delayed committee vote that has only deepened community divisions.

Jewish leaders, business groups, and political figures argue that it is misguided, inflammatory, and an irresponsible misuse of council resources, especially as antisemitism surges across NSW.

A Motion That Serves No Practical Purpose

The motion, passed in June 2024, called for a review of council investments to check for financial ties to companies profiting from Israeli settlements or arms manufacturing. The resulting report found no such connections, meaning the council has no direct financial links to sever.

Despite this, Greens Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore and other supporters continue to push for further action, calling the motion a “first step” toward a full BDS policy. Critics, however, question why the council is wasting time and resources on an irrelevant issue that has no tangible impact while serious local concerns remain unaddressed.

David Ossip, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD), called the motion “an extraordinary slap in the face to [the Jewish] community while we’re experiencing an unprecedented wave of antisemitic domestic terrorism”. “While Jewish families fear for their safety, the council is fixating on a symbolic gesture that achieves nothing except sowing more division.”

Opponents have also pointed out the double standard in how the motion frames human rights concerns. While it specifically targets Israel, it fails to mention Hamas’s terrorism, human rights abuses in other nations, or the role of armed militias in Gaza.

Clover Moore’s Absence From the Roundtable on Antisemitism

The motion comes on the back of Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s decision not to have the City of Sydney represented at last week’s Mayoral Roundtable on Antisemitism. The roundtable brought together mayors and other council leaders from across NSW to discuss practical steps to address the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents, including vandalism, hate speech, and threats against Jewish and other places of worship.

“At last week’s Mayoral Roundtable on Antisemitism, councils focused on what they do best—practical action on local issues,” Ossip said. “After refusing to attend that roundtable and support her own local community, Clover Moore is now choosing to focus on global issues for which the Council has no expertise and will have no impact.”

The mayor’s refusal to engage with the Jewish community at a time of crisis, while pushing ahead with a motion that singles out Israel, has only strengthened the argument that the council is fostering division rather than helping its residents.

BDS: A Movement Rooted in Division

Critics have pointed out that the BDS movement has long been linked to antisemitic rhetoric and discrimination, with Jewish organisations warning that it fuels hostility towards Jewish communities rather than advancing human rights.

Both federal and state Labor leaders have distanced themselves from BDS, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejecting the movement and affirming Australia’s diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. Similarly, NSW Premier Chris Minns has focused on tackling antisemitism through stronger laws rather than endorsing a local government boycott with no meaningful impact.

A Waste of Ratepayers’ Money

Beyond political and moral concerns, critics have pointed out the serious economic questions the motion raises about how local government funds are being misused. Sydney ratepayers will remember the 2011 Marrickville Council BDS attempt, which was abandoned after it was revealed that a full boycott would cost taxpayers at least $3.7 million. With the City of Sydney responsible for major commercial precincts, contracts, and services, business leaders have warned that an explicit BDS policy could have costly consequences.

“At best, this is a waste of ratepayers’ time and money. At worst, it’s designed to sow even more division while Jewish communities are being attacked, childcare centres are being burned to the ground, and places of worship are being defaced,” said Ossip.

A Time for Leadership, Not Symbolic Politics

The timing of the motion has only intensified tensions, with antisemitism now a key political issue in NSW. Today in parliament, Premier Chris Minns introduced legislation to criminalise Nazi symbols, protect places of worship, and increase penalties for hate crimes. The NSW Opposition has gone further, pushing for tougher laws on extremist symbols and new restrictions on disruptive protests, arguing that Sydney’s Jewish residents have been targeted by repeated anti-Israel demonstrations.

The Road Ahead: A Critical Vote on February 17

With the full council set to vote on the motion, all eyes will be on Mayor Clover Moore and her Team Clover councillors, whose votes will likely determine the outcome. With Labor and Liberal councillors opposed but lacking a majority, there is growing pressure for Moore to abandon the motion entirely.

Jewish leaders, business groups, and political figures continue to urge the City of Sydney to focus on real local issues rather than engaging in political gestures that deepen community division. “Now more than ever, we need leadership that unites, not divides,” said Ossip. “The City of Sydney should be working to protect its residents—not engaging in meaningless political stunts that serve no one.”