Waverley, Inner West, Liverpool mayors to host social cohesion roundtable amid rising anti-Semitism

Mayors from across Sydney are set to come together “as one voice” to sign a bipartisan statement condemning violence – and call for foreign conflicts to be kept out of local government.

Mayors from across Sydney are joining forces calling on “urgent action” from the state and federal government to combat escalating racism and anti-Semitism in the city’s communities, as tensions in local communities reach a fever pitch.

On Thursday, at least 25 mayors from Sydney will convene at Bondi’s Surf Pavilion for the first-of-its-kind mayoral roundtable, held in response to the city’s unravelling social cohesion.

Officially titled Sydney Mayors Social Cohesion Roundtable, the conference will be hosted by Liberal mayors Will Nemesh of Waverley and Liverpool’s Ned Mannoun, along with Labor mayor Darcy Byrne from Inner West Council.

Cr Nemesh leads Waverley in Sydney’s east, which has become ground zero for the state’s anti-Semitic attacks, and proposed the idea in November.

Cr Nemesh stated the roundtable’s aim was to “bring together mayors from across Sydney to condemn the disgusting acts of violence we are currently witnessing”.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh proposed the roundtable late last year.

“While local government cannot legislate, it can send a strong message to state and federal government that we can and we should be doing more,” he said.

Invitations sent to mayors of 31 councils stated the roundtable was a response to “growing concerns about social harmony and the alarming rise of anti-Semitic and other racist attacks”.

Police are at the carpark in Eastgardens Westfield shopping centre as new anti-Semitic graffiti plastered on property.

The invitations, released on January 20, state the roundtable “will demonstrate the critical role of local government in safeguarding the wellbeing and resilience of communities” along with showing “strong leadership on social cohesion”.

Central to Thursday’s agenda is a joint statement, which attendees are invited to sign, condemning recent incidents of violence, hatred, and extremism and calling on “urgent action” from the state and federal governments.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrn hopes the roundtable ‘could be the start of something bigger’.

A draft statement seen by this masthead calls on both levels of parliament to recognise councils as “vital” toward maintaining social unity.

Among the “urgent action” being sought from up the chain, is improved legislation and security resources, along with funding for multicultural and interfaith education programs.

The draft statement also makes reference to the importance of local governments’ to remain focused on “local issues”, stating foreign conflicts were not part of the council’s expertise.

Cr Byrne said he hoped the roundtable “could be the start of something bigger”.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun.

“It’s really encouraging, such a large proportion of mayors from Sydney are attending, that's not an easy thing to arrange,’’ he said.

“There is an important role for local government to play. We don’t control legislation or police enforcement but we are directly responsible for programs and local investment to bring diverse communities together, and to explicitly state our opposition to violence, threats and intimidation.

Similarly Cr Mannoun said the roundtable was “an act of solidarity”, and the interfaith teamwork being demonstrated “should be seen as an example”.

“No one should feel unsafe in Sydney to practise their religion, and the roundtable will be an act of solidarity to those from the different faiths that have been targeted recently, in particular our Jewish community,” he said.

“The fact that a Jewish, Muslim and a Christian mayor can unite to celebrate their commonalities should be seen as an example for others to follow

“Mayors know their community best and are on the ground working with everyone.”