Randwick Council ramps-up security after mayor’s ‘inflammatory’ anti-Israel speech

One of Sydney’s biggest councils will ramp-up security at its next meeting after its Greens mayor accused Israel and its supporters of ‘murdering babies’ in an ‘inflammatory’ speech.

Randwick Greens mayor Philipa Veitch, pictured in 2019.

One of Sydney’s biggest councils will ramp up security at its next meeting after its Greens Mayor accused Israel and its supporters of “murdering babies” in an ­“inflammatory”speech that left a Jewish councillor and com­munity members fearing for their safety.

The Australian can reveal extra guards and council rangers will attend Randwick council’s Tuesday session after Mayor Philipa Veitch’s fellow councillors and the wider Jewish community claimed they had been “intimidated” and left worried about pro-Palestine activists ­descending on the chamber.

Ms Veitch, one of the nation’s few Greens mayors, said the views expressed “were her own” and that she had always ensured meetings were conducted in a “safe and respectful manner”.

During a pro-Palestine speech to about 30 students at the University of NSW last week, Ms Veitch claimed Israel was “brutally murdering babies” and it had “completely destroyed every single” Gazan university.

“We need to keep up the pressure … coming out (to) these protests,” she said, claiming she and activists had been “silenced”.

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Liberal councillor Daniel ­Rosenfeld, who is Jewish, wrote to the council general manager saying he had been “very intimidated” by the Mayor’s “offensive” speech and language, and had received complaints and similar concerns from the community.

After Ms Veitch’s speech, and the possibility of a pro-Palestine activist crowd, the general manager confirmed security and council rangers would be called in. “Given (the) concerns that you have raised, I will arrange the security and council rangers to attend the meeting,” he wrote to Mr Rosenfeld and other councillors.

Mayor Philipa Veitch. Picture: Mark Bond

Mr Rosenfeld, the only Jewish council member, said the language was “confronting”, particularly from someone who is in essence Randwick’s elected spokeswoman.

“A lot of people were angry and upset, and the feedback I get from (people of all faiths) is that council needs to be focused on Randwick,” he said. “Council meetings are open, and that’s partly why I’ve asked for extra security. Activists may not behave properly (in the chamber as a result).”

Colleagues backed the move, with councillor Christie Hamilton saying the increased security was an “appropriate response” to the Greens’ escalation of an issue “without relevance to locals”.

“But it all costs money that we shouldn’t need to be spending,” she said, claiming the Greens found it impossible to uncouple their political beliefs from their council roles.

Ms Hamilton said the Greens were “fixated” on the war and Randwick had previously seen pro-Palestine activists descend on council chambers, in one instance with their own photographer.

“We have to ensure work is a safe place,” she said.

Council insiders accused the Randwick Greens – of which there are four elected members – of constantly peddling “fringe activism” and said they were “picket ready”.

The council last July voted in favour of flying the Palestinian flag outside the town hall, although it reversed the decision after Hamas’s October 7 attacks.

Ms Veitch said she had been expressing her own views but felt it important given what was happening in Gaza, and the rising death toll.

“I’ve always ensured that our council meetings are conducted in a safe and respectful manner, and believe this is very important,” she said, adding she had received no security advice regarding Tuesday’s meeting.

Randwick councillor Daniel Rosenfeld. Picture: Supplied

Councillor Christie Hamilton, pictured in Randwick in 2017. Picture: AAP

The Randwick Greens have previously waded into debates over Adani’s mining operations, Julian Assange, Turkish domestic affairs and the Japanese government discharging treated water from the Fukushima power plant into the ocean.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim called the Greens a “party of undergraduate protesters”, saying Ms Veitch and colleagues needed to better focus on the bread and butter of local government. “The Greens’ Mayor has failed the basic test of leadership,” he said. “Her inflammatory statements about an overseas conflict about which she clearly knows so little has polarised the local community and made tensions worse.”

The Australian revealed last week that Greens councillors would take a “roads, rates and revolution” platform to September’s NSW local government elections.

Inner West Greens councillors and candidates have hurled abuse at Labor colleagues over the Gaza war, criticised efforts for a two-state solution, and voted against motions condemning Hamas and calling for the release of hostages.