Geelong council candidates pledge to take action for Palestine
A group of Geelong council candidates have committed to taking “tangible action towards a free Palestine” if they are elected to City Hall. SEE THE LIST.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A group of Geelong council candidates have committed to taking “tangible action towards a free Palestine” if elected.
Eleven candidates across eight wards have agreed to take action, as proposed by Free Palestine Geelong, on three fronts.
Each prospective councillor has pledged to support a council motion that denounces “Israel’s occupation, apartheid and genocidal war on Palestine”.
Additionally, they will push for council to adopt an “active and consistent position on human rights” and, perhaps most controversially, seek to update council’s policies as to “avoid and divest from companies that support the illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel or profit from it”.
The signatories include all seven Greens candidates: Izzy Scherrer, Jess Harper, Joey Nicita, Maddie Slater, Sian Milton-McGurk, Theresa Slater and Emilie Flynn.
Socialist Alliance candidates Sarah Hathway and Angela Carr have also signed up, as have left-leaning candidates Tom Gant and councillor Elise Wilkinson.
Mr Gant said he signed the pledge in support of “basic human rights and fairness”.
“I know there are many who believe that the council should be about roads, rates and rubbish alone, but it is the council’s duty to also represent the views of the people,” he said.
“I want to be clear from my own personal stand point, I’m not anti-Israel.
“What I don’t agree with is Zionism, just as I don’t agree with, or support any kind of, religious fundamentalism.
“These extreme beliefs don’t have a place in society.
“The pledge is about making sure our council doesn’t indirectly support policies that hurt people.”
Mr Gant said if he were elected in the Cheetham ward he would push council to “formally call out the (Israeli) occupation” in Palestine.
“I want to make sure we’re taking action,” he said.
“That means updating our procurement policies so we’re not working with companies that profit from the occupation or invasion of Palestine.
“This does not mean I am anti-business by any stretch, I will fight for local business and encourage new investment in Geelong.”
In November, Ms Hathway sought answers from City Hall as to why she was “gagged” from introducing a statement regarding the Israel-Hamas war, while Mayor Trent Sullivan addressed the conflict.
Monday marks a year since the Hamas fighters invaded Israel, an event that resulted in more than 1200 Israelis deaths – the largest single-day loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.
Free Palestine Geelong is holding a candlelight vigil Monday evening on Little Malop St, and then a rally on Saturday.
A raft of political leaders warned against holding pro-Palestinian rallies on Monday.
“It is a day of profound grief and trauma and deep sadness for Melbourne and Victoria’s Jewish community,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said.
The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.
More Coverage
Originally published as Geelong council candidates pledge to take action for Palestine
Residential care ‘more dangerous’ than prison, ex-employee says
A Geelong woman who worked in maximum security prisons says she felt more at risk working in residential care.
Hawkins’ two-headed calf mishap, why Tuohy is ‘born’ for media
Zach Tuohy’s time as a Cat might be done, but coach Chris Scott believes a career in the footy media beckons. Plus, Tuohy reflects on his career and Tom Hawkins details a hilarious pre-game story.