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Bondi Beach, Sydney, host city of the 2026 Local Government Summit
2026

About the Summit

Sydney, NSW

The 2026 Local Government Summit Against Antisemitism and For Social Cohesion is a landmark national event bringing together hundreds of mayors, councillors, and community leaders in a united stand against rising antisemitism and hate.

Held in Sydney from 26–27 November 2026, the Summit will showcase the vital role of local government in confronting antisemitism, fostering social cohesion, and strengthening inclusive, resilient communities.

Across two days, delegates will hear from Australian and international experts, share local experience, examine practical responses to antisemitism and community division, and build stronger links between councils across the country.

Why Sydney?

Choosing Sydney is not incidental; it is a necessary response to a crisis that has reshaped our nation.

Red paint splashed on the former home of an Australian Jewish leader in Dover Heights, Sydney
Red paint splashed on the former home of an Australian Jewish leader in Dover Heights, Sydney, January 2025.
Floral tributes left by mourners at the promenade of Bondi Beach in Sydney
Floral tributes left by mourners at the promenade of Bondi Beach in Sydney, December 2025.

Following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, Australia experienced a seismic rise in antisemitism, most visible in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. What began as graffiti and harassment in our local streets evolved into a climate of fear, targeting spaces the Jewish community has inhabited for generations.

Culminating in the tragedy of 14 December 2025, when innocent Australians were murdered while celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach. It was a day that should have been defined by summer and celebration; instead, it became an attack on our collective freedoms and the safety of all Australians.

As a result, the Waverley Council area found itself on the front line, requiring local leadership to meet a challenge that affects us all. What has defined Bondi since is not the attack but the answer to it: a community and a council that met fear with solidarity, and grief with resolve. That response is the model this summit exists to share.

The Role of Local Government in Fighting Antisemitism
and Strengthening Social Cohesion

Antisemitism is not merely a national policy problem. It is a neighbourhood problem, and it requires neighbourhood solutions. Local governments sit at the intersection of law enforcement, education, housing, social services, and community relations. This proximity gives you a unique and powerful mandate to act - and a responsibility you can no longer defer.

When antisemitism takes hold in a community, it fractures the social fabric that binds neighbours together. Addressing it is therefore inseparable from the broader work of building social cohesion: fostering trust, belonging, and mutual respect across lines of difference. Councils that lead on antisemitism are simultaneously leading on the health of their entire community.

Australian Advisory Committee

The 2026 summit is guided by a distinguished group of Australian community leaders whose standing and deep commitment to Jewish life in Australia give the gathering its local authority and legitimacy.

David Gonski AC

David Gonski AC

Summit Chair

Charmaine Roth

Charmaine Roth

Dr. Orna Triguboff

Dr. Orna Triguboff

Dr. Ron Weiser AM

Dr. Ron Weiser AM

By registering you will join a movement in ensuring antisemitism cannot take root in our local community. Take a stand against the world's most ancient hatred and bring all Australians together.

Register Now