Will Nemesh elected first Jewish mayor of Waverley in 16 years
In a dramatic meeting at Bondi Pavilion last night, Will Nemesh was elected as Waverley’s new Mayor through a draw after a tie vote among councillors.
Will Nemesh and the new Waverley Council
Nemesh is Waverley’s first Jewish Mayor since George Newhouse and is known to the Jewish community from his time on the boards of Emanuel Synagogue, Courage to Care, as well as working at the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. He has been a member of Waverley Council since 2017 and now steps up as the most senior member of the Liberal team following the retirement of several long-time councillors.
Speaking to J-Wire, Nemesh expressed his pride at being Jewish and a Mayor of Waverley. “I think, it’s very important to have a strong voice for the Jewish community, particularly since October 7, communities have felt traumatized and, in some respects, marginalized, and being in a position to call out hate and particularly antisemitism and to show strong leadership on that.”
He stated, “I will work tirelessly to enhance our public spaces, protect our environment, and build upon our infrastructure – ensuring that Waverley remains a vibrant, welcoming place for everyone to live, work and visit.”
“I can’t wait to represent this wonderful community as Mayor, and I look forward to listening to residents and implementing positive change.”
Other Jewish Councillors in Waverley are Josh Spicer and Dov Frazer, both newly elected, and well-known member of the community, Steven Lewis.
Spicer, who, at 25, is the youngest Waverley councillor and is a chartered accountant working for a startup. Spicer was a Yong Liberals branch president and in 2021 moved a successful motion at a NSW Young Liberals conference which endorsed and adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. He is a member of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies public affairs committee and has volunteered for Community Security Group.
Frazer, a longstanding advocate for the Vaucluse area, states he is dedicated to upholding the values of the Jewish community within the Council. Lewis, a former Labor Councillor for two terms who now serves as an Independent, has been a staunch defender of the Jewish community, vocally opposing attempts to boycott Israel and similar moves.
This election came in the wake of controversy within the council soon after the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023. Ludovico Fabiano was removed as Deputy Mayor of Waverley and stripped of various committee roles after voting against a council resolution condemning Hamas’s attack and supporting the Jewish community. His removal followed strong criticism from Jewish community leaders and a petition that garnered over 2,500 signatures, reflecting widespread public support for his dismissal.
Nemesh commented “I think it’s important that, at a local level, we really stick to local government issues. What happened last year in terms of the Green reaction to what occurred, not just in the Middle East but in our community was quite appalling, and they haven’t shown attrition, a change of opinion, in that view. Irrespective, I look forward to working with all councillors for the betterment of our residents in Waverley.
Well-known Jewish councillor, Leon Goltsman did not stand for re-election. He was active on council since 2012, making him one of the longest-serving councillors. Goltsman was instrumental in supporting the Jewish community in that time including advancing Waverley Council’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
With Nemesh in the position of mayor for the next two years, Waverley Council aims to strengthen its role as a beacon of support for the Jewish community and a model for other local governments across Australia.
Daniel Rosenfeld
In Randwick, which also has a considerable Jewish population, recent council negotiations have led to significant disagreement. Liberal councillor Daniel Rosenfeld highlighted that “Labor have done a deal with the Greens in Randwick where we understand that the Greens will receive the Mayoralty in the third year of the four-year council term.”
Rosenfeld further explained, “In our negotiations with Labor, we wanted only one year of Mayoralty out of four, specifically the first year. Labor, however, offered us only the last year of the four-year term. We can’t accept that due to trust issues between us and Labor. Instead, they ensured another year of a Greens Mayoralty, likely to be Phillipa Veitch, to commence in September 2026.”
Greens councillors, including Veitch, have faced criticism for prioritising international issues over local ones, with some opponents arguing that councils should focus on community matters. Randwick’s Jewish community has previously expressed concerns about Veitch, particularly following her remarks at a pro-Palestinian rally where she accused Israel of “murdering babies.” Furthermore, Veitch opposed flying the Israeli flag at Randwick Town Hall on Yom Ha’atzmaut, which led to protests and heightened community tensions.
In August, a no-confidence vote by Liberal councillors aimed at ousting Veitch failed after Labor and Greens councillors opposed it. Instead, an amendment was passed to denounce both antisemitism and Islamophobia and to reaffirm the council’s commitment to community cohesion.
