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A motion at last week’s Randwick Council meeting condemning the pro-Palestinian motorcade at Coogee on November 11th was defeated.

It was defeated 8-7 and 4 out of 5 Labor councillors voted against the motion, joining the four Greens councillors.

All five Liberals voted in favour joined by one Labor and one Independent.

On National Remembrance Day, November 11, a vehicle convoy conducted an organised pro-Palestinian protest drive to Sydney’s Coogee Beach. The protesters were recorded yelling abuse and making threatening statements. When a pedestrian asked why, one passenger stated, quote, ‘we didn’t light up the Opera House’ referring to the NSW government’s decision to light up the Opera House in blue and white in a show of solidarity with Israel.

The motion raised by Liberal Councillor Christie Hamilton asked that the Council

1. condemn the road convoy that came to Coogee Beach on Saturday, 11 November 2023.
2. strongly supports the safety of all Randwick City residents and their right to live without fear.
3. update Randwick Council webpage with an announcement containing points a and b of this motion.
4. writes to the Eastern Beaches PAC asking for a report on the organised protest to be brought back to Council, identifying all measures taken to avoid the situation and request that this situation be avoided in the future.
5. write to the NSW Government to work with pro-Palestinian groups and request that road convoys cease to be used as methods of protest as they bring fear into suburbs with Jewish background communities.

Liberal Councillor Daniel Rosenfeld told J-Wire: ““ I am disappointed that the majority of councillors did not support this motion to ensure all Randwick City Council residents are safe and to condemn the pro-Palestinian motorcade that came to Coogee on November 11th. I share the anxiety that many of the Jewish community in the LGA are feeling, and I do see a rise of antisemitism.”