Waverley Council launches antisemitism strategy

Waverley Council has launched Australia’s first Model Antisemitism Strategy, providing a template for councils nationwide to combat antisemitism in their local communities.

Mayor Will Nemesh unveiled the landmark initiative on day two of the Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism on the Gold Coast, announcing it had gone live on Waverley Council’s website at 9am that morning.

“This Model allows councils everywhere to take meaningful, locally relevant action,” Mayor Nemesh said.

“Waverley is proud to be launching this initiative to fight hate and build stronger, more cohesive communities.”

The strategy draws from Waverley Council’s comprehensive antisemitism framework, developed in close consultation with Jewish community representatives and peak bodies, and includes practical guidance for councils developing locally relevant strategies.

“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,” Mayor Nemesh told the Australian Jewish News.

Fellow mayors responded overwhelmingly positively, with many requesting copies of the template strategy to implement in their own areas.

Mayor Nemesh emphasised the strategy’s broader significance for social cohesion.

“This isn’t just about Jews. It fits into a broader conversation around social cohesion and the kind of Australia that we want to see, which is one that is multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith, but cohesive.”

He warned that rising antisemitism “is unacceptable and it needs to be addressed, because hatred that starts with Jews never ends just with Jews.”

The summit’s 250-plus delegates heard sobering testimony about antisemitism’s personal impact from NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig, who disclosed he now requires police security to attend synagogue services.

“I now can’t go to the synagogue unless I am driven to the synagogue, the police duty officer has to contact CSG, they take me from the car, take me to the synagogue, and then they take me out from the synagogue and put me back in the car,” he revealed.

“I can tell you from attending synagogue services that there is considerable fear in the Jewish community.”

Government Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal used her address to defend her national antisemitism plan against what she described as “gross misinformation.”

The plan, released in July, has faced criticism over its reference to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

“Those who say the definition prevents criticism of Israel are just quite wrong,” Ms Segal said.

“Criticism of Israel similar to the criticism that one might make of any other country, it explicitly says is not antisemitic.”

Ms Segal urged all councils to adopt the IHRA definition, saying, “You can’t counter and combat something if you don’t know what it means.”

Queensland Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hermann Vorster, highlighted antisemitism’s broader societal impact, describing how antisemitic graffiti on a World War One commemorative mural led to the entire mural being removed.

“When we allow antisemitism to persist, it’s not just an attack on the Jewish population, it is an attack on all nations and all societies that hold out freedom,” he said.

Minister Vorster concluded with words that captured the summit’s central message: “You cannot combine a nation if you divide a nation.”

The summit has only faced minimal disruption from protesters so far.

Two appeared outside the hotel where many participants are staying on Thursday morning, waving banners opposing Zionism and shouting slogans.

Queensland Police kept them away from attendees.

At least one conference participant found professionally produced pamphlets criticising the summit and Israel at her hotel.

And a banner accusing Israel of starving babies was unfurled across the road during the gala dinner.

The summit continues on Friday with testimony from a Holocaust survivor, a session on collaboration between indigenous and Jewish communities and a summing up by Executive Council of Australian Jewry President Daniel Aghion.

The Model Antisemitism Strategy for Local Councils is available on Waverley Council’s website for any council seeking to develop their own antisemitism framework.