Sydney mayors unite against antisemitism: City of Sydney declines invitation

A rare bipartisan and cross-faith mayoral meeting held at Bondi Pavilion, brought together 20 mayors from across Sydney to take a united stand against the rising tide of antisemitism and other religious and racial hate crimes.

The gathering, led by Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh, Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, and Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, reinforced Sydney’s commitment to social cohesion and called for urgent action from the New South Wales and Federal Governments.

However, the City of Sydney was a notable absentee from the roundtable. At the last minute, Lord Mayor Clover Moore withdrew Deputy Lord Mayor Zann Maxwell from attending after her proposed changes to the statement were rejected by the other mayors. Despite bipartisan support for the initiative, Moore refused to sign the statement, arguing that it should include a separate, stronger condemnation of Islamophobia rather than a broader condemnation of violence against multiple faith communities.

Moore also sought to make other changes, including removing references to violence against Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists; altering a section that reaffirmed that “local government is for local issues”; and requesting that the statement refer to the participating leaders as “mayors of Sydney” rather than “Sydney mayors,” to clarify that she is the only official “Sydney” mayor. The City of Sydney’s absence was particularly notable given that it is the state’s richest and most influential council.

Despite these demands, the mayors stood firm, and the final statement was endorsed unanimously by all attendees. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh, who co-led the initiative, declined to comment on the City of Sydney’s absence but described the statement as “a really strong and positive message that shows we are united.”

The roundtable resulted in a joint statement that unequivocally condemned the alarming increase in antisemitic attacks while also acknowledging the broader rise in racism and religious vilification targeting Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists. The mayors pledged to be “champions of social cohesion” and urged government leaders to strengthen hate crime legislation, enhance security for at-risk communities, and invest in multicultural education. The message was clear: Sydney’s leaders would not tolerate acts of hate, and those responsible must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The decision by Moore and the City of Sydney not to participate has drawn significant backlash, particularly from Sydney’s Jewish community, which has been deeply affected by antisemitic attacks. The Great Synagogue, one of the city’s most prominent Jewish institutions, issued a statement expressing “deep sadness and disappointment” at Moore’s refusal to participate, questioning her leadership at a time of heightened fear and uncertainty.

The synagogue’s statement also pointed to recent security threats, revealing that it had been the target of an advanced plot to harm its community, its building, and its members. The statement criticized the Lord Mayor’s silence following this incident, stating: “We are yet to hear from the Lord Mayor in the wake of the revelations of this distressing incident, which has caused fear and anxiety within our community.”

The synagogue further questioned Moore’s failure to take a stronger stance, asking: “How is it that constituents, places of worship, and locations of historic and cultural significance in the City of Sydney Local Government Area are being vandalized and are under threat on a daily basis, yet no hard line has been set by Lord Mayor Clover Moore?”

Moore’s office defended her decision not to attend the roundtable, with a spokesperson stating that the statement was “needlessly one-sided” and should have placed equal emphasis on Islamophobia and antisemitism. The spokesperson argued that Sydney is home to both Jewish and Muslim communities, both of whom are experiencing heightened threats, and that a statement promoting social cohesion should have condemned both equally. While acknowledging that antisemitic attacks had been horrific, Moore’s office maintained that “needlessly one-sided statements can be divisive and harmful, and risk running counter to Sydney’s values of inclusiveness and harmony.”

Despite Moore’s position, the mayors who did attend the roundtable remained firm in their commitment to addressing antisemitism and all forms of hate. Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun spoke about Sydney’s success as a multicultural society and the importance of “rebuilding the bridges that exist” between different communities. He noted that Sydney is a city where diverse cultural and religious traditions should be celebrated together, referencing upcoming events such as Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Passover, and Easter as examples of how Sydney thrives as an inclusive community.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne described the recent surge in antisemitic violence as “out of control” and stressed the importance of a united approach to tackling racism. He acknowledged that while antisemitism was the immediate concern, Sydney’s Chinese community had also faced discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Islamophobia continued to be a “persistent problem.” He emphasized that the mayors were speaking “with one voice” to reaffirm their commitment to multiculturalism and inclusivity.

The joint statement called for governments to work with councils to strengthen laws against hate crimes, improve policing for at-risk communities, increase security for religious sites, and invest in multicultural education programs. The mayors also committed to ongoing collaboration between councils to develop anti-racism and social cohesion strategies.

While the statement has been widely praised, Moore’s absence continues to raise questions about her approach to combating antisemitism. Her decision to withdraw from the initiative follows the City of Sydney’s controversial 2024 vote to review its financial dealings with Israel, a move that some have argued has contributed to division within the community.