Waverley Council’s Aussie first
The drafting of the strategy followed consultation with a broad range of stakeholders.
Waverley Council on Tuesday night endorsed the first local government strategy to combat antisemitism in NSW and Australia.
Designed to be a model for other councils to adapt, the strategy uses the IHRA definition to define antisemitism and is aimed at ensuring Jewish residents feel safe and included, building awareness, promoting security, and strengthening social cohesion.
“I am proud to lead a council which has developed the first ever local government strategy to combat antisemitism in Australia,” Waverley mayor Will Nemesh told The AJN.
“We have seen an alarming rise in antisemitism which has acutely impacted the Jewish community within Waverley but also throughout Australia more broadly.
“Waverley Council has been proactive in leading the development of a comprehensive strategy to fight antisemitism as well as racism and prejudice more broadly.”
The drafting of the strategy followed consultation with a broad range of stakeholders including the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Sydney Jewish Museum and other Jewish organisations, the council’s Multicultural Advisory Committee, police, Multicultural NSW and the NSW Faith Affairs Council, and with other Sydney mayors at a roundtable on February 7.
Community activities in the action plan fall under four areas: prevention, via public awareness campaigns, education and events; early intervention, through identifying and responding to antisemitism; response, by providing support for those affected while sharing data with police and other agencies; and recovery, namely helping individuals and the community recover after antisemitic incidents.
Focus areas for Waverley Council itself under the plan include promoting the IHRA definition and working with NSW Police on safety measures and public infrastructure, establishing a reporting system to track and monitor antisemitic incidents and developing an emergency response plan, and training council staff on antisemitism awareness and reporting.
Waverley Council also plans to strengthen partnerships with Jewish organisations, police, and community leaders, collaborate with neighbouring councils to build a joint response to antisemitism, and to support educational programs in schools on Jewish history and antisemitism.
“This strategy is Council’s blueprint for supporting and engaging with our Jewish community, ensuring everyone feels valued, respected and safe,” Nemesh continued.
“Antisemitism has no place in our society and this strategy affirms our commitment to combating this form and all forms of racism, bigotry and extremism.”
All Waverley Councillors will be obligated to complete a training session at the Sydney Jewish Museum while schools in the local government area will be encouraged to take students there and to engage in programs such as Courage to Care.
“The Sydney Jewish Museum and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies were our lead partners as well as other Jewish communal organisations in developing and adopting this strategy,” Nemesh added. “I hope that many other Councils across Australia can adopt similar frameworks when it comes to combating antisemitism.”
The only Councillor to vote against adopting the plan on Tuesday night was the Greens’ Dominic Wy Kanak.
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