Councils urged to tackle anti- Semitism as residents call for more than ‘just signs’

Local councils are being urged to take stronger action against anti-Semitism, as research shows residents want more than just “signs” to tackle hate.

Councils are being urged to do more than “just put up signs” to tackle anti-Semitism, with research showing half of NSW and Victorian residents want stronger action on racism.

Local councils are being urged to step up the fight against anti-Semitism and intolerance by residents who feel councils need to do more than just “put up signs” against racism.

Research by the Combat Antisemitism Movement, which is hosting a Gold Coast summit for mayors on the topic in September, found that at least half of residents in NSW and Victoria think councils “should be doing more to address ethnic and religiously motivated intolerance” in their communities.

Potts Point resident Nikki Goldstein said that she was aghast to learn of “gas the Jews” graffiti in her neighbourhood via a Facebook group.

She said that while it was removed by the City of Sydney the council, which installed anti-racism signs in 2021, had little to say about the incident.

“I don’t think putting up a sign makes a difference,” Goldstein said.

“I feel like we Jews are more of a target here than we are in Israel, all of a sudden we have Jews around the world and even in Potts Point being held responsible for what’s going on in the Middle East.”

Will Nemesh, mayor of Waverley in the city’s east, agreed councils needed to step up and do more about what he called the “appalling” rise of anti-Semitism.

“Every day, across Australia our communities, people are telling us they want their local representatives to do more to promote social cohesion.”

Nemesh said that his council had become a “leading voice” on the subject and urged other mayors to send delegations to the summit.

The survey, which found that 54 per cent of NSW residents and 50 per cent of Victorians wanted more action, come after another spate of anti-Semitic incidents over the past weekend that included a synagogue’s front door being set alight and a Melbourne Israeli restaurant being stormed by protesters.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh says councils need to step up and do more about what he called the “appalling” rise of anti-Semitism.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson, who won back the Victorian seat of Goldstein in May, said all levels of government need to do more.

“Australians have woken up to the rise in anti-Semitic events in the community, and sadly the Prime Minister and Premiers have left a vacuum that local elected officials can help fill and be part of the solution”.

“Standing up against anti-Semitism can’t just be left to Jewish Australians, non-Jewish Australians of conscience have to stand up and make it clear that tolerating such racism is an attack on all of us and our national unity,” he said.

The survey of 1,001 voters from across Australia was completed between June 27 and July 1.

Originally published as Councils urged to tackle anti- Semitism as residents call for more than ‘just signs’