On behalf of the Newtown electorate, I acknowledge the peaceful rally in support of Palestine organised by Palestine Action Group and Tzedek, an anti-Zionist Jewish collective, last Sunday 15 October at Hyde Park. More than 6,000 community members gathered in solidarity with the Palestinian people to solemnly mourn the rising civilian death toll and call for urgent de-escalation and an end to the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine as the situation in Gaza worsens. Particularly in times of heightened tension, speaking out requires courage and conviction. I acknowledge the staunch and uncompromising activism and words of each of the speakers at Sunday's rally, including Josh Lee, Rand, Michelle, Ethan Floyd, Professor Peter Slezak, New South Wales Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Fahad Ali, Ramia Abdo Sultan. In particular I thank Sheikh Wesam Abdo; Suzan Wahhab, President of Palestinian Christians in Australia; and the Jewish community member who ended the rally peacefully, for the prayers from their respective faiths. I thank all who participated for their unwavering solidarity with and support for Palestine.
In February this year the Sydney Morning Herald reported on a community forum in solidarity with Palestine that I spoke at in December 2023. During the forum I used language that had unintended antisemitic implications and caused some members of the community hurt. I subsequently issued an unreserved public apology. Following this media coverage, an individual made a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission. I am pleased we have now resolved the complaint through a conciliation process. In addition to the unreserved public apology I made in February this year, I have also made a $2000 donation to the Sydney Jewish Museum and will visit the Museum in the coming weeks as a way of deepening my understanding of racism, antisemitism and genocide. I have also chosen to donate $2000 to the Jewish Council of Australia - a diverse coalition of Jewish academics, lawyers, writers and teachers united in their opposition to Israel’s continued policies aimed at the destruction of Palestinian life. I reaffirm my commitment to continual care and reflection in my ongoing work for human rights and advocacy for a free Palestine.
Together with Greens Councillor on City of Sydney Council, Sylvie Ellsmore, we have identified several major issues with the plans to rezone public housing at Explorer Street and Aurora Place in Eveleigh. In addition to strongly objecting to the central premise that the only way to build new social housing is by demolishing existing public homes, we are deeply concerned by the impact a rezoning would have on the community at Explorer Street, many of whom have lived there for nearly thirty years. We also have serious concerns about the lack of appropriate accommodation for residents who are relocated, the uncertainty around a right of return for residents wo are displaced, and the flawed community engagement process undertaken to date. Read the full joint submission here.
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