Waverley Council Deputy Mayor removed following stance over motion condemning Hamas

The deputy mayor of a local council has been dumped from the role after he voted against a motion condemning the Hamas attacks.

The deputy mayor of a Sydney council with a large Jewish population has been voted out of the position after he refused to back a motion condemning the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Waverley Council held an extraordinary council meeting on Thursday night to vote on a motion to remove Greens councillor Ludovico Fabiano as the deputy mayor.

The meeting was at times highly emotional, with Mayor Paula Masselos-Mayor threatening several times to kick out people in the gallery who were making loud interjections.

Mover of the motion to eject Mr Fabiano, Liberal Councillor Will Nemesh said it was untenable for Mr Fabiano to continue as deputy mayor.

“He should have done the honourable thing and resigned, barring that, which he hasn’t. council will now endeavour to remove him as deputy mayor,” he added.

Ludovico Fabiano has been removed as the Deputy Mayor of Waverley Council. Picture: Facebook

Mr Fabiano had voted against a motion after the October 7 attacks that condemned Hamas, expressed “sympathy and condolences” to the families and friends of the dead and injured, and acknowledged the loss of civilian lives in Israel and Gaza “as a direct consequence of Hamas’s terrorist attack”.

Mr Nemesh rejected Mr Fabiano’s claims the council had politicised the issue.

Waverley Council voted to remove Ludovico Fabiano (standing second from right) from the role of deputy mayor. Picture: Supplied / Waverley Council

Mr Nemesh also said Mr Fabiano had amended the original motion to also acknowledge “the war crimes perpetrated by a right-wing Israeli government”.

“If anyone’s politicised it, he has. The amendments he did was about the Middle East and Middle Eastern politics,” Mr Nemesh, who also follows the Jewish faith. said.

“What he said is really quite disgraceful and I think goes to the heart as to why he should have resigned.”

Mr Fabiano will remain as a councillor. The deputy mayor role is elected by councillors for a period of one year.

Fabiano: ‘Surprised and deeply disappointed’

In a statement issued by Mr Fabiano on Wednesday night before the meeting, the 13-year councillor said he was “surprised and deeply disappointed”.

“It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the wonderful people of the Waverley Council area as their Deputy Mayor,” he said.

“It is an amazing community – diverse, inclusive and a community that I believe cares deeply about each other and the many complex issues that face communities around Australia.”

He said he would continue to “condemn the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli military”.

“With this tragic conflict in Gaza and Israel, this is not the time for politicians to seek political mileage from this conflict on the other side of the planet.”

Mr Fabiano and fellow councillor Dominic Wy Kanak voted against a motion condemning the Hamas attacks on Israel. Picture: Facebook

NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) president Lydia Shelly called on the motion “undemocratic”.

She said Mr Fabiano and Mr Kanak’s comments were “non controversial,” and reflected the views held by many Australians.

“If our society is serious about protecting and defending human rights, no one should be subjected to oppressive conduct for speaking in support of human rights, regardless of whether that is at home or abroad,” she said.

“This motion signifies a very concerning slide towards silencing those whose views may not conform with those who wield political power. There is no place in Australia for this to be normalised.”

Mr Fabiano also said he and Mr Kanak had since received “offensive and deeply unsettling” social media posts and emails.

“Some of the emails have used threatening language. One email has been referred to the police,” he said.

“We have been shocked at the online attacks and hate speech we have received. Most people would be.”