Gold Coast Summit Attendance
Thanks for asking. Yes, I did attend.
I care about both the rise of antisemitism in our city and the terrible humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That’s why I’ve stood at the Unions NSW Vigil for Peace, marched across the Harbour Bridge for Humanity, and also chose to take part in the Gold Coast summit. For me, it’s about protecting social cohesion, confronting racism, and standing up for human dignity wherever it is under attack.
I was disappointed to have been pulled from the Sydney mayors’ roundtable on antisemitism in Bondi earlier this year, where I was due to represent the Lord Mayor. I saw the Gold Coast event as a chance to make up for that absence, and to hear from distinguished Australians like David Gonski, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, former Queensland Premier Stephen Miles, NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig, Federal Minister Kristy McBain, and Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne. Both events were framed around the role of local government in tackling antisemitism, not foreign policy.
To me, antisemitism and social cohesion are too important to be monopolised by one perspective, or for progressive voices to absent themselves. Having diverse voices at the table matters. Attending does not mean “signing up” to anyone else’s views; it’s what you say when you’re there that counts. And my style of politics is not to just sit in cosy circles of the like-minded, but to enter contested spaces, make the progressive case, and build bridges.
When I spoke, I made three key points:
First, antisemitism must be confronted consistently, in progressive spaces as well as conservative ones.
Second, I called out the uncomfortable associations around the summit itself. I warned against narrowing the coalition against antisemitism through “alliances of convenience,” saying it is hard to take talk of cohesion seriously from anyone who bankrolls Advance or vilifies other Australians; remarks I made in a room that included Stanley Roth and Nova Peris. Still, just as extreme banners at a Gaza rally don’t discredit the genuine humanitarian concern that motivates so many to march, the presence of hard-liners here should not be allowed to define the shared concern about antisemitism.
Third, I said antisemitism must never be used to shield the Israeli government from legitimate criticism, and nor should criticism of Israel be used to excuse or diminish antisemitism. I said plainly, “I oppose the horror the Netanyahu government is inflicting on Palestinian civilians. The scale of the humanitarian crisis is an atrocity; I condemn it; and it must end.” I delivered those remarks in a room that included the Israeli ambassador.
Not everyone liked what I had to say, but many told me it was important that it was heard in that forum.
If you’re interested, I am happy to send you my written speech or it is available here.
For transparency: while the organisers offered to cover my travel, I declined and used the councillor conference budget, in line with the rules. As Deputy Lord Mayor, I regularly attend events in my own right, and unless I am formally representing the Lord Mayor and the City, I don’t need approval to do so.
My attendance was consistent with my responsibilities, my values, and my commitment to strengthening social cohesion in Sydney.
Kind regards,
Zann