Nemesh ‘will not tolerate’ hate
Nemesh is Waverley's first Jewish mayor since George Newhouse in 2007 and he said the support from the community has been humbling.
“I want our community to feel not only safe, but valued,” Will Nemesh told The AJN after the Liberal councillor was elected mayor of Waverley Council.
Nemesh is Waverley’s first Jewish mayor since George Newhouse in 2007 and he said the support from the community has been humbling.
“It’s a great honour and privilege and I’m very much humbled by the support given to me by members of our community, who are also proud that Waverley has a Jewish mayor,” said Nemesh, who has been a member of Waverley Council since 2017.
He is well known in the Jewish community, having been on the boards of Emanuel Synagogue and Courage to Care, as well as working at the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
Nemesh said one of the commitments going into the local elections was to be the first local government to develop and introduce its own antisemitism strategy, and the hope is that other councils will follow suit.
“When it comes to hate, and particularly antisemitism when it’s directed against our community, I will not tolerate it,” said Nemesh.
“I will be a very strong voice against what is occurring. Social cohesion is a way of life for all Australians and I believe that, at the moment, the fabric of that social cohesion is being ever so eroded by those who are espousing hate and prejudice and undermining our way of life. I will absolutely not tolerate that.”
Nemesh also said his key focus will be on getting back to basics in order for the council to deliver on “core essential services”.
Meanwhile, Woollahra Council also has a Jewish mayor after councillor Sarah Swan – previously deputy mayor – was elected to the top position.
And in Randwick, Liberal councillor Daniel Rosenfeld expressed his disappointment in the new Labor/Greens alliance, which will ensure Randwick Council again has a Greens mayor in two years’ time.
Labor’s Dylan Parker was elected mayor with the help of the Greens, with the third year of the council term again to be handed over to the Greens – likely to be Philipa Veitch.
“The Labor Party doesn’t seem to learn from their mistakes with regards to dealing with the Greens,” said Rosenfeld, who ran for the position of deputy mayor while his Liberal colleague Christie Hamilton ran for mayor.
“The Labor Party is happy to make a deal that will lead to another Greens mayor and deputy mayor. I’m very disappointed there’s a new Labor/Greens alliance.”
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