Commitment to civic standards, community safety and the condemnation of hate-based anti-semitic intimidation

Randwick Council at its meeting in February 2026 reaffirmed its commitment to the guiding principles of Section 8A of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) which includes the need to act fairly, ethically and without bias in the interests of the local community.

Randwick Council:

• unequivocally condemns all acts of violence, terrorism, threats, harassment, or intimidation directed at civilians regardless of political, religious, or ideological justification.
• rejects the justification, celebration, or endorsement of such acts in Australian civic spaces.
• recognises antisemitism as a distinct and historically persistent form of hatred directed at Jewish people as Jews.
• affirms that antisemitism can manifest across the political spectrum and may be expressed through conspiracy theories, collective blame, dehumanisation, or denial of Jewish people’s right to safety and equal participation.
• rejects antisemitic conduct or expression, including where Jewish people are targeted, intimidated, or vilified because of their identity, religion, ancestry, or communal affiliation.
• affirms the right to lawful protest and political expression within the Randwick Local Government Area.
• notes, however, that expressions which reasonably foreseeably incite hostility, violence, or intimidation against identifiable communities undermine community harmony and public safety.
• rejects slogans, chants, symbols, or conduct that have the effect of threatening, glorifying violence against, or denying the legitimacy or safety of local communities.
• acknowledges that antisemitic narratives have historically preceded or accompanied violence, exclusion, and persecution of Jewish communities in multiple jurisdictions.
• notes that language portraying Jews collectively as oppressors, colonisers, or uniquely malevolent has historically been associated with societal harm.
• rejects the attribution of collective guilt to Jewish people for the actions of any state, government, or military.
• notes that the use of extreme or absolutist characterisations—where employed to harass or intimidate local communities—undermines social cohesion and public safety.
• affirms that Councillors and Council-endorsed forums are expected to act consistently with the principles of ethical leadership, mutual respect, and community cohesion.
• reaffirms that Council is not a forum for adjudicating international conflicts, however is responsible for setting standards of conduct within its Local Government Area.