Clover Moore spurns anti-Semitism mayoral roundtable after 11th-hour demands rejected

Clover Moore spurned a cross-party and cross-faith mayoral roundtable of more than 20 other leaders uniting against anti-Semitism, pulling out at the 11th hour because her host of demands were not met.

Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne, left, and Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun flank Waverley mayor Will Nemesh, pictured speaking after Thursday’s roundtable in Bondi. Picture: John Feder

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore spurned a rare bipartisan and cross-faith mayoral roundtable of more than 20 other leaders uniting against anti-Semitism, pulling her deputy at the 11th hour because her host of demands were not met.

Despite Liberal, Labor and independent mayors joining on Thursday in an unanimous call for harmony, Ms Moore – whose council is the state’s richest and most influential – was a glaring omission from its signatories.

She refused to sign up after other leaders rejected her last-minute demands that a draft statement – put together by five bipartisan and cross-faith mayors – only condemn anti-Semitism if Islamophobia was called out equally; omit mentions of hatred targeting other faith groups; and make clear there was only one “Sydney” mayor – herself.

Ms Moore’s demand came despite the draft noting that while there had been an escalating rise in anti-Semitic attacks, the mayors stood against hatred also targeting “Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists”.

Thursday’s 21-strong roundtable and communique was spearheaded by Liberal Waverley mayor Will Nemesh, who is Jewish, Liberal Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun, who is Muslim, and Labor Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne.

The final communique vowed mayors would be “champions of social cohesion”, calling on state and federal governments to work with councils to “combat anti-Semitism” while protecting all communities.

The City of Sydney deputy mayor, Labor’s Zann Maxwell, had been slated to attend on Ms Moore’s behalf, but was pulled by the lord mayor at the last minute.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, left, and deputy Lord Mayor Zann Maxwell. Picture: City of Sydney

Ms Moore had sought to make 11th-hour amendments to the pre-roundtable draft statement to replace a section condemning hatred against each faith community, including Muslims, with a condemnation of Islamophobia.

That passage read: “We unequivocally condemn the alarming rise in anti-Semitic attacks as well acknowledge the broader escalation of racism and violence against racial and faith-based communities including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists.”

It had been drafted by an elected Muslim leader and was agreed by multiple others of different faiths and political parties.

Ms Moore sought to omit “Christians, Hindus and Buddhists”, replacing it instead with a “stronger” condemnation of Islamophobia.

A line reaffirming that “local government” was for “local issues” was also sought to be watered down and the joint statement’s headline changed from “Sydney mayors” to “mayors of Sydney”.

It is alleged she had also sought to include herself as one of five “hosting” mayors, which included the roundtable’s three founders and two mayors of eastern suburbs councils. The lord mayor, however, denies that suggestion.

The demands came only a day before Thursday’s roundtable, where a final version was unanimously endorsed.

Mr Maxwell said he was asked to represent the lord mayor who couldn’t attend and it was not known at first there would be a joint statement.

A council worker removes red paint thrown onto Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin’s former home in Dover Heights, Sydney, in January. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

“As the lord mayor leads on decisions regarding the city’s participation in such statements, she proposed changes to the draft,” he said, adding that when there was no agreement, Ms Moore pulled the council’s participation.

“I did not have the authority to approve (council’s) participation myself, so it was not appropriate for me to attend.

“I had been looking forward to going – at a time of heightened tensions, we must be proactive in challenging hate in all its forms, particularly as recent attacks have left many in the Jewish community feeling unsafe.”

In 2024, City of Sydney voted to instigate a “review” into its suppliers or investments with links to Israel, which is due to report back soon.

A spokesman for Ms Moore rejected the lord mayor had sought to “co-host” the event but doubled down, saying the statement – undersigned by mayors representing more than 3.5 million residents – was “needlessly one-sided” and should have condemned anti-Semitism and Islamophobia equally, despite the slew of recent anti-Semitic attacks.

“Sydney is a multicultural and harmonious community, home to both Muslim and Jewish people – both of whom are experiencing renewed and heightened attacks,” the spokesman said, reiterating that anti-Semitic attacks were “horrific” but that there had also been a drastic increase in Islamophobia.

Some of the 20 mayors at Bondi Beach.

“The lord mayor believes that any statement seeking to promote social cohesion should unequivocally condemn both the alarming rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks.

“Needlessly one-sided statements can be divisive and harmful, and risk running counter to Sydney’s values of inclusiveness and harmony.”

Ms Moore said that “no community should live in fear”, adding there was no place for “violence or hatred”, condemning the “alarming rise” in both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, which had “no place” in Sydney.

Undeterred, the mayors from each wing and faith condemned recent “acts of hate and violence”, saying the “cowardly acts” must be met with the “full force of the law”.

Mr Nemesh said the unanimous statement showed that they were on the same page.

“(The mayors) represent nearly the entire population of Sydney, and this is a really strong but positive message that shows we are united,” he said.

“We all want to see Sydney return to the place we know and love, which is harmonious, full of people that respect each other.”

Cross-faith and cross-party mayoral leaders Mr Mannoun, left, Mr Byrne, centre, and Mr Nemesh. Picture: John Feder

Mr Mannoun said Sydney was the “most successful multicultural community” in the world and its residents wanted to “work together”.

“The world has gone through a challenging time and it’s all about rebuilding the bridges that exist,” he said.

“We can go out there this weekend and enjoy the great Chinese New Year festivals. We can go next month and enjoy Ramadan, and a couple weeks later, enjoy Passover and Easter. This is Sydney. It’s not multicultural communities, it’s our Australian communities.”

Mr Byrne said the recent spate of anti-Semitic violence was “out of control”.

“That we had so many mayors come together to say that we want to play a role in opposing racism and building social cohesion in our local communities is really important,” he said, adding that although anti-Semitism was currently “the primary problem”, Sydney’s Chinese community felt targeted during the Covid pandemic and Indigenous Australians during the Voice referendum, while there remained a “persistent problem” with Islamophobia.

“(We’re) speaking with one voice to say that our multicultural society is worth protecting and that we’re going to take action together.

“We’re sending a message to the state and federal governments that you can unify people from different political parties and geographic locations.”

The joint statement also: called on every community to “stand together”, condemned anti-Semitism and acknowledged hatred toward any group, urged state and federal governments to work with councils to “foster inclusivity”, develop unique anti-racism strategies, share best practices through a “strategic framework”, and routinely work together, among others.