Mayors unite on Gold Coast to confront surge in antisemitism

In response to surging antisemitism, more than 250 mayors and councillors representing nearly 100 municipal councils convened on the Gold Coast last week for the first-ever Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism.

Organised by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and chaired by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, the summit sought to turn concern into action at a time when antisemitic incidents in Australia have reached alarming levels since the October 7 Hamas attacks. Synagogues have been set on fire while worshippers were inside, Jewish homes and businesses vandalised, and rallies echoing with antisemitic chants.

Indigenous leader and Olympic gold medallist Nova Peris delivered a personal opening address, drawing on her heritage to underscore solidarity. “The Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel. That is the truth. And here in Australia we must stand with them … because truth matters, because peace matters,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told the gathering in a video message: “The Australian Jewish community deserves to be celebrated as much as any Australian. The Australian Jewish community also deserves to feel as safe as any Australian. And that’s why we must do everything within our power to stamp out antisemitism.”

Australian Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal warned that antisemitism was not creeping in but “well and truly with us.” She said, “Local government is where Australians live their lives, and what you decide to do will shape how safe people feel every day at the sportsground, at the high street and at the school gate. This is where we need to fight hatred.”

She described antisemitism as a direct challenge to Australia’s core values. “This threatens not just the Jews … but it absolutely tears at our social cohesion, and it tears at our democracy and the future for our children and our country. It’s an existential threat to our democracy.”

Across three days, delegates heard from law enforcement officials, policy leaders, a Holocaust survivor,a former Nazi leader, Jeff Schoep and a reformed Islamic extremist, Mubin Shaikh, who once promoted hate but now work on prevention. Sessions examined global and local trends, online threats, and case studies from councils already implementing strategies. The summit closed with workshops where mayors drafted city-level action plans to take back to their communities.

One of the practical initiatives unveiled at the summit was Waverley Council’s Model Antisemitism Strategy for Local Councils, a framework designed to help municipalities adopt tailored approaches while drawing on tested measures.

The plan is built on the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, giving councils a clear standard for recognising and responding to hate. It includes recommended protocols with local police for swift responses to vandalism or intimidation, partnerships with schools and education authorities to educate young people, and engagement with interfaith and community leaders to strengthen cohesion.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said the model offers a ready-made template: “Local government is the tier of government closest to the community, and councils can and must play a role in ensuring Jewish residents feel safe, included and respected. This model allows councils everywhere to take meaningful, locally relevant action.”

The human impact was driven home when Sydney Deputy Lord Mayor Zann Maxwell read a statement from a Jewish bakery owner in Darlinghurst whose shop had been targeted. “If you’re coming after me, it’s not an Israel problem. It’s a Jewish problem, and we have a word for that: antisemitism.”

CAM advisory board member Robert Singer, a former CEO of the World Jewish Congress, praised the long-standing contributions of Australian Jews but said the climate had worsened dramatically. “The opponents are loud, but they are not representative. Antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem; it is a threat to the moral fabric of Australia itself. To remain silent is to concede. To confront it is to defend democracy.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin stressed that denial remained the foremost obstacle. “The atrocities of October 7 were recorded in horrific detail, and yet they are already being denied, minimised or excused. To deny such crimes is not ignorance; it is malice intended to make them happen again. Denial is the shield behind which antisemitism flourishes.”

Dr Charles Small, head of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, linked Australia’s challenge to a broader global pattern. “Antisemitism may begin with the Jews, but it never ends with the Jews,” he warned. “This is not only an assault on Jews. It is an assault on human dignity, on women, on minorities, and on democracy itself.”

From abroad, Beverly Hills Mayor Dr Sharona Nazarian echoed the call for urgency: “History has taught us that what starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews. Hate always finds another target, which is why we must be proactive, we must be united, and we must be loud.”

Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, and Israeli Special Envoy for Antisemitism Michal Cotler-Wunsh. Nova Survivor Natalie Sanandaji, UNSW Chancellor David Gonski and deputy lord mayors from Sydney and Melbourne also contributed meaningful and informative addresses. Video messages of support also came from former prime minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley.

Community partners for the summit included the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD), the Queensland Holocaust Museum and Never Again Is Now (NAIN).

Organisers hailed the summit as a resounding success, saying it had armed local governments with practical tools and renewed determination. Future mayoral summits are scheduled later this year in Paris and New Orleans.

Segal urged councils to act decisively. “Councils sit where the abstract meets real life. When you act with clarity, all feel safe to celebrate, learn, worship and disagree with respect. But when you hesitate, the loudest voices fill the vacuum.”