Councillor Ryan Morris will attend the conference. Photo: Ryan Morris.
An all expenses paid weekend on the Gold Coast is on offer to councillors across Australia – but just one Wollongong councillor has said yes.
Councillor Ryan Morris will attend the 2025 Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in September.
Combat Antisemitism Movement is a coalition of about 700 organisations, including Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, opposed to antisemitism.
The organisation is based in America and was founded by Republican Party donor Adam Beren.
Organisers say the conference “will bring together more than 200 local government leaders, and community advocates from across Australia in a collective effort to secure and nurture common understanding and safety in our communities”.
All councillors at Wollongong City Council said they had received the invitation, however everyone but Cr Morris declined it.
Wollongong resident and Jewish Australian woman Shoshana Dreyfus said she was concerned Cr Morris had not done “due diligence” in looking at the conference.
“I am the child and grandchild of Holocaust survivors, and great grandchild of those murdered in Auschwitz,” she said.
“As a community we are very divided at the moment.
“The Combat Antisemitism Movement takes a very controversial definition of antisemitism used to silence criticism of Israel, what it is doing in Gaza and the West Bank.
“As a Jewish person, Israel does not represent me, and tackling antisemitism should be part of a broader effort to tackle racism.
“Why would a councillor be given a fully-funded junket to the Gold Coast? Who is paying for this?”
When the council was asked to approve Cr Morris’ attendance Councillor Dierdre Stuart said she was concerned Cr Morris’ acceptance of the invitation could be seen as accepting a “gift or benefit”.
General Manager Greg Doyle said as long as the costs were declared it was not an issue.
Councillors Kit Docker and Thomas Quinn said they were also uncomfortable about the lack of transparency regarding the source of funds to cover costs for hundreds of councillors from across the state for the weekend.
Cr Morris hit back, and said he would be happy for the council to offer to cover the costs of the weekend rather than have the organisers pay.
He argued that antisemitism was on the rise in the region and the council should be equipped to deal with it.
“I have been approached by members of the Jewish community because of what they are copping in this LGA,” he said.
“They’re saying they feel isolated in Wollongong. They don’t order kosher food anymore. Antisemitic graffiti and slogans have become more visible.
“This conference is not just about antisemitism, it is about how to make sure we are doing the best we can to minimise and eradicate all racism and hate.
“It’s time to put a stamp on it.
“Our Prime Minister is critical of Israel, but not antisemitic. He can find the difference, we should be able to too.”
Councillors Dan Hayes, David Brown and Linda Campbell, along with Lord Mayor Tania Brown, were cautiously supportive of Cr Morris’ attendance at the conference.
Cr Brown argued it was important for councillors to be up to date on contemporary issues, and an attempt to block a councillor’s attendance at a conference was unprecedented in his experience.
“Some of them are strange events, but our roles are very broad,” he said.
“A position of information is greater than a position of ignorance and new councillors should be encouraged to educate themselves.
“Councillors as adults take responsibility for what they put their hand up to attend, and the community will judge them accordingly.”
Cr Campbell agreed, despite her own misgivings about the conference.
She said councillors must respect one another.
“Once we start to assume our fellow councillors don’t have the ability to discern information and make their own decisions we are headed down a very slippery slope,” she said.
“I have my own concerns about this conference, and that’s why I chose not to attend.”
The motion was carried, with councillors Dan Hayes, Richard Martin, David Brown, Tiana Myers, Ann Martin, Linda Campbell, Ryan Morris and Tania Brown voting in favour of Cr Morris attending the conference.
Councillors Thomas Quinn, Andrew Anthony, Diedre Stuart, Kit Docker and Jess Whittaker voted against.
