Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Weldon –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note that:

(i)           on 7 October 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel involved the targeting and death of 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals including children, and the taking of hostages;

(ii)         the Israeli military declared “a state of war alert,” and moved troops into Gaza. According to the United Nations, to date, the Israeli military operation has resulted deaths of an estimated 37,000 Palestinians, and displaced over two million individuals, with an estimated one million at risk of starvation The International Court of Justice has ruled that all steps to prevent genocide in Gaza must be taken; and

(iii)        in June 2024, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an immediate, full and complete ceasefire;

(B)        Council note that:

(i)           on 23 October 2023, Council voted to unanimously support peace in Israel and Gaza;

(ii)         on 11 December 2023, Council reaffirmed there can be no path to peace without respect for human rights and international law, and urged the Australian Government to support international efforts for an immediate, sustainable and humanitarian ceasefire, to enable peace negotiations and a pathway to achieving lasting peace; and

(iii)        the impacts of the conflict and the decades of struggle continue to be felt deeply in the Sydney community;

(C)        Council note that the City of Sydney in 2023 adopted an Investment Policy that committed the City to avoiding investments that may involve socially harmful activities, defined as:

(i)           abuse of Human Rights and Labour Rights;

(ii)         involvement in bribery/corruption;

(iii)        production or supply of armaments; and

(iv)        manufacture of alcohol, tobacco, or gambling products;

(D)        Council note that the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights maintains a database of companies involved in one of ten defined activities (paragraph 96 A/HRC/22/63) that raise particular human rights violations concerns regarding Israeli settlements throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with 97 companies currently listed that have, directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the settlements;

(E)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)           prepare a report for Council on divestments that have or may be undertaken, to ensure that Council’s Investment Policy 2023 fully consider companies involved in, or profiting from, any human rights violations including the illegal occupation of the settlements in Palestinian territories, and the supply of weapons;

(ii)         ensure this report considers both suppliers used by the City of Sydney and the City’s investments and contractual obligations;

(iii)        ensure this report includes advice on any legislative and/or legal considerations that may affect Council’s ability to implement restrictions of this nature;

(iv)        make recommendations, if needed, of changes that Council make to its suppliers and investments, to ensure that Council is not purchasing from companies involved in weapons or human rights abuses; and

(v)         make recommendations, if needed, about changes to Council investment and procurement policies and practices, to ensure that the ethical screen that the City applies to its procurement and investments adequately cover companies involved in activities that involve human rights violations, including human rights abuses in Palestine; and

(vi)        report back to the elected Council within three months, or as soon as practical; and

(F)        all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute's silence to acknowledge the loss of human lives and the impacts of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (8)     The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Ellsmore, Kok, Scott, Weldon and Worling.

Noes (2)     Councillors Gannon and Jarrett.

Varied motion carried.

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Note – All those present at the meeting observed a minute’s silence to acknowledge the loss of lives in Israel and Gaza.