PANZMA’S FIRST FEMALE SURGEON VOLUNTEERS IN GAZA
ARABIC & ENGLISH
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THE LINGERING BLIGHT – SETTLER COLONIALISM BY SAI ENGLERT
PANZMA’S FIRST FEMALE SURGEON VOLUNTEERS IN GAZA 6 18 14 16 17 17 4
SILENT VOICES: MULTIFAITH AND MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP AT A CROSSROADS
UNITY OF PURPOSE, MOBILISING POLITICAL STRENGTH
SOLIDARITY BAKE SALE FOR PALESTINE IN PERTH
SACRED MEDICINE IN HEALTHCARE EVENT
SAYING “NO”: BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH FIRMNESS
Al Wasat Magazine
LEBANON IS BURNING AS THE WORLD WATCHES ON
Arab Council Australia
“Lebanon is facing a crisis akin to the devastation witnessed in Gaza over the past year. The international community, including Australia, has a moral obligation to act and halt the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe”, said Hassan Moussa, Chief Executive Officer of Arab Council Australia. In just three weeks, more than 2,000 civilians have been killed, and over 10,000 severely injured in Lebanon—a country already grappling with profound economic challenges. Over 1.2 million people have been displaced internally. As in Gaza, there are no safe places. Israeli
airstrikes continue across Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.
The catastrophe unfolding in Lebanon is causing deep anguish, pain and grief among the Lebanese community in Australia, who watch in disbelief and fear for the safety of their loved ones. The trauma is palpable as they bear witness to the ravaging of their ancestral lands, knowing their families are in danger.
“We are bearing witness to the devastating genocide in Gaza, where more than 42,000 innocent people, including infants not even a day old have been brutally killed. Entire infrastructures —hospitals, schools, clinics, and shelters — have been reduced to rubble with people still inside. Medical personnel, UN
staff, and journalists have not been spared, all murdered under the pretext of ‘Israel’s right to defend itself’. Enough is enough. How long will the world continue to tolerate this ongoing massacre?” Mr. Moussa asked.
In the past two days alone, Israel has shown a blatant disregard for international law and human rights, continuing a year-long campaign of violence against civilians. This morning, Israel bombed the northern Lebanese village of Aito, killing 21 members of a displaced South Lebanese family seeking refuge. Yesterday, Israel deliberately attacked UNIFIL forces in Lebanon, injuring international peacekeepers. Simultaneously, they bombed shelters in Jabalia, North
Gaza, burning civilians alive who had sought safety after multiple displacements.
“These tragedies are but a fraction of Israel’s gross violations of human rights and international law. Countries like Australia lose credibility and moral standing when they fail to hold Israel accountable for its crimes. Sanctions must be imposed. We also urge Australia to take swift humanitarian action, considering both the dire situation in Lebanon and the profound impact it is having on the Lebanese Australian community” said Mr Moussa.
PANZMA’S FIRST FEMALE SURGEON VOLUNTEERS IN GAZA
By Shazma Gaffoor
It’s been months since Australian surgeon Bushra Othman returned from a medical mission in Gaza, but the experience still has her choking back tears.
Heading into Gaza at a tumultuous time wasn’t easy, and even harder for someone of Palestinian origin, because Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) put a block on Palestinian healthcare workers entering the Gaza Strip, according to a CNN report.
Dr Bushra Othman was one of four Australians of Palestinian heritage who travelled to Jordan, but three days in, two of the medical staff got denied by COGAT for their Palestinian identity.
“Think of all the ways in which Palestinians have been segregated, have racism applied to them, been oppressed in all these different ways and yet it also still applies to medical teams wanting to enter Gaza,” Dr Othman told Al Wasat.
Dr Othman’s parents were both born in Palestine and their families migrated to Kuwait in the early 60s seeking safety during the unrest, which is where she and her brother were born. The family then migrated to Melbourne just after the Gulf War in 1992.
It was always on the radar for Dr Othman, more so during medical school, to visit her parents’ homeland to lend a hand wherever needed.
“I’m a qualified general surgeon, I’m a Palestinian and I can speak Arabic, so I’ve got the skills as well as the ability to travel and go there,” she said.
Dr Othman’s medical mission was through Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association or PANZMA who liaises with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Israel to provide medical services in Gaza and the West Bank. The mission took several months to generate interest and process all the necessary documentation given that this was
also their first medical mission.
As the first female surgeon for PANZMA to volunteer at the Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital, and with a low success rate for anyone with Palestinian heritage, Dr Othman was beyond grateful for the chance to put her skillset into good use.
“Allah has a plan for each of us. That doesn’t discount that we have to also take action on behalf of ourselves...If there’s meant to be Taufeek, nothing can come between what Allah has ordained for you,” Dr Othman said.
After she and her team first arrived at Karem Abu Salem crossing, they were driven in a bulletproof UN convoy vehicle for close to a muted two hours upon entering Gaza. The team were then dropped off in a safe house where representatives from the relevant hospitals came to pick the newly arrived medical staff.
The first sounds she heard after stepping out of the vehicle was the whirring of drones above and children playing on the beachy area of al-Mawasi, amid the thousands of displaced tents strewn along for miles.
“We cannot comprehend or understand what they have lived through, and not just in the last 11 months. Everyone in Gaza have lived through wars and have grown up in it. They have the ability to just soldier on.”
Each day at the hospital was different and dependent on what medical supplies was at hand. Patients were sprawled everywhere
Dr Bushra Othman
at any given time.
After sunset power is completely shut off in Gaza, so travelling between the hospital and the safe house was dangerous at night, so Dr Othman would stay in the cordoned off rooms arranged for medical staff to save travelling time as well as being available for overnight emergencies.
“We just lived in the hospital, 24 hours a day,” Dr Othman said.
She said there were days where the operating theatre would stop for hours when power and water is suddenly cut off or when they run short of medical supplies, where only some surgeries would have to be prioritised, often without pain relief.
One encounter that is still etched in her mind
is a 17-year-old patient called Anwar. Her father wholeheartedly put his trust in Dr Othman’s hands, hoping that his daughter would be saved.
“How do you reconcile with someone giving you their trust with their daughter, and you knowing that you’re not going to be able to save her?”
After going through such a harrowing and transformative experience, returning home after the three-week mission left her feeling dejected, but the love and support from family, community and other medical mission staff whom she met in Gaza has been monumental.
“Nothing I’ve suffered or witnessed compares to what [those in Gaza] have been through. All we did was bear
witness to everything, and now it’s our duty to try to relay that for the people of Gaza,” Dr Othman said. She still gets updates on her patients where some have passed on due to malnutrition or severe infections which is a common theme even to this day.
“The dead have been given a small reprieve, Alhamdulillah, from the suffering of this world. But there are hundreds of thousands who are still there that need us to keep fighting for them.”
Despite everything that Dr Othman encountered, she feels a sense of hope, now more than before she left on her mission, that Gaza will be liberated.
“This life is temporary, there is a greater goal we’re working towards, we will be held accountable for everything we have or haven’t done,” she said.
“All humans around the world have the same basic needs; which is love, safety and security. And they deserve it, and they want it just like everyone else.”
THE LINGERING BLIGHT –SETTLER COLONIALISM BY SAI ENGLERT
Bilal Cleland dunk1689@gmail.com
This happened at the same time as the new conservative government of the Northern Territory builds new prisons and intends to jail ten year old children, who as we know will be Indigenous . Meanwhile on the other side of the world the European settlers of Israel step up their genocide in Gaza, burning alive patients on IV tubes and bomb residential buildings and civilian areas in Lebanon, offering a smorgasbord of justifications which no-one believes.
It has extended to bombing Islamic banks with the usual hasbara.
These are all the fruits of the phenomenon of settler colonialism, which entails the spread of dispossession and attempted elimination or enslavement of Indigenous peoples by foreign powers seeking to exploit their resources.
Origins of Settler Colonialism
The British Empire used the system established by Spain and Portugal with the assistance of the Roman Pope to divide the world and rule subject peoples.
Unfortunately, the Muslims
The sight of Senator Lidia Thorpe approaching His Majesty in the reception in Canberra, denouncing the dispossession and genocide visited upon the Indigenous people of this country, later interviewed by major international media but denounced by the locals, has reinforced the attitudes conveyed with the resounding defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
of Spain can be blamed for these dreadful developments because their inability to maintain their civilisation on the Iberian Peninsula opened the way for the primitive barbarians of Aragon and Castile.
These backward feudal monarchs were able to impose their religious intolerance and ‘blue blood’ sense of superiority over the local Jews and Muslims, then the people of the Americas and Africa.
The Catholic victory meant expulsion of Jews and Muslims unless they converted.
Then to the notions of ‘purity of blood’ distinguishing the original Catholics from the converter Marranos and Moriscos.
This became the foundation of the colonial system.
“In the process they moved from a justification of war, oppression and dispossession on the basis primarily of faith, to one based on characteristics imagined to be fundamental, such as the blood or the innate nature of those who were being brought under their rule.”
This pattern of racial discrimination was transferred to the settler colonies they established in the New World.
The origins of the imperial legal system were laid down after the 1492 victory over Muslim Granada and the voyage of Columbus with Spanish Christian funding, on his ignorant search for a new route to India.
The opening of the New World and the eventual spread of European colonisation around the world is still being used as evidence of European superiority. That attitude has not died out as we have seen in recent events.
In fact the sea exploration by Spain and Portugal was a sign of their backwardness.
Trade with India and the East was controlled by the Muslim nations against which these feudal monarchies were powerless. They wanted to bypass the land route by finding an alternative sea route around Africa in the case of Portugal, or directly across the Atlantic as the case with Spain.
The old colonial spreaders of dispossession and genocide today have transformed their political systems to democratic, and now pose as defenders of human rights and international law.
The Gaza genocide and the assault on Lebanon with the complicity and outright
support of these old colonial powers, including the USA, has exposed the very nasty roots of that sense of superiority. As we saw with the earlier War on Terror, the degree of wickedness was related to skin colour.
The hysteria around immigration (of brown people) in Europe and the USA has made this old attitude crystal clear to the world.
The Legal Basis
Pope Alexander VI published a bull, ‘Inter caetera’, to divide the New World between Spain and Portugal.
It decreed that all lands west and south of a meridian line 100 leagues west of the Azores and Catpe Verde islands rightfully belonged to Spain.
The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed by both countries, dividing the world, in 1494
The Doctrine of Discovery, part of this, granted the Catholic monarchies of Portugal and Spain the right to claim lands they discovered in West Africa and the Americas.
It involves the idea that underlies much of the settler colonial expansion, that
lands already inhabited and cultivated could be claimed by European nations.
The obvious assumption is that the discovered people were inferior to their discoverers, a barbaric notion.
The Dutch and British, although not recognising the authority of the Roman Pope, operated under the same doctrine, hence Britain’s claim to possess New Holand.
Sai Englert in “Settler Colonialism,” states: “The so-called Terra Nullius paradigm, identifying colonised lands as belonging to no-one, formed a key justifying narrative for settler expansion around the globe.”
As late as 1831 the US Supreme Court recognised the Doctrine of Discovery giving European and their agents in the New World the right to claim native lands by their physical act of discovery.
The Settler Colonial Pattern
The settler colony established by Columbus in Haiti set up the pattern which has been followed in various ways up to the latest settler colony in Palestine.
“The settlers, discovering that the island was rich in gold, set out to accumulate as much of it as possible. “ This led to violent conflict with the Indigenous islanders who destroyed the first settlement.
The following year Columbus returned to the island with over a thousand settlers and re-established his settlement.
Forced labour was imposed on the locals in the gold mines and in food production and the food was directed to the settlers not the Indigenous. By 1580 about 658,000 had been sold into slavery.
African slaves were imported as the Indigenous labour force declined through genocide.
Englert writes: “The invasion of the Americas by the Spanish crown, Portugal’s establishment of the early Atlantic African slave trade, and the extraction of silver and gold through the forced labour of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, facilitated new forms of accumulation on a
global scale, which in turn participated in transforming social relations in Europe.”
And this accumulation of stolen wealth led to the rise of European capitalism and industrial expansion.
The gold and silver which flooded into Spain and Portugal created a demand for the sugar cotton and tobacco from the settler colonies, stimulating the growth of industry and freeing up peasants from the land for work in the new cities or to populate the settlement colonies.
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya, North America, South and Central America were all subject to the dispossession, forced labour and genocide of settler colonialism, all flowing from the pioneering work of the Spanish barbarians.
Racism as Social Control
“Indigenous and enslaved population rebelled and fought for liberation from
the moment Europeans set foot on their shores.”
Resistance leads to violent response and the violence used against people deigned inferior, knows no limits. The response to slave rebellions was truly barbaric and we see that same response going on today against the resisters of Palestine.
But violence has its limits. Psychological weapons must be brought into play and one of the most effective was racism. It enabled the colonisers to exert control by dividing the Indigenous and enslaved.
“…racism is best understood as the ideological justification for the … exploitation enslavement and/or elimination of the colonised.”
Stratification of the labouring population, based on creed or skin colour, proved effective.
As we see in the US presidential campaign and the Australian Voice Referendum, “…racism remains a powerful-and murderous-global reality, which continues to shape
social relations across the board.”
But resistance never dies out.
“The civil rights and Black Power movements, the campaign against the war in Vietnam and the anticolonial revolutions across Africa and Asia, influenced Indigenous activists as well as scholars, and shaped the politics of their own re-emerging liberation struggle.”
There has been an attempt to bring back notions of the superiority of White or European or Western civilisation under various guises, but the battle has been lost.
There are still remnants of racism in “…access to education, work, health care, migration, justice, of life, to name but a few,” and these inequities remain to be overcome.
Still Dividing
Settler colonialism does not belong to the past. It is an ongoing reality.
It is a form of domination and needs to be understood not as an isolated atrocity in one place but as a global system of dispossession, enslavement, and genocide.
Here in Australia the effort to Close the Gap shows that the genocide is ongoing and in Palestine it is blatant before the world’s media, with support from most of the European nations and their diaspora.
It is hard to honestly disagree with Englert: “… settler colonialism’s defining logic is the elimination of the native. Whether physically, culturally and/ or through assimilation into the settler population, settler colonialism is differentiated from its franchise counterpart by settler power’s eliminatory drive, necessary to lay claim on Indigenous land.”
The author is a prominent Australian Muslim scholar and activist.
MAYOR EL-HAYEK RE-ELECTED
Councillor Bilal El-Hayek has been re-elected as Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown during the first Ordinary Meeting of Council tonight (Tuesday 15 October).
Mayor El-Hayek was elected unopposed by the new Councillors before a packed gallery of cheering family, friends and supporters.
He will serve alongside Councillor Karl Saleh OAM, who was elected Deputy Mayor.
In a heartfelt speech, Mayor El-Hayek thanked his wife, Maysa, and his four children who were present, and the community for their unwavering support.
“I am honoured and humbled to be re-elected to represent one of the largest Councils in Australia,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“I intend to continue to build on the great work this Council has achieved, and I want people to be proud to live in our City.
“The next four years will be the most significant in our City’s history, with major growth and investment expected.”
Mayor El-Hayek said with the arrival of the new metro, the beginning of construction of the new Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital, the completion of the Canterbury Leisure and Aquatic Centre and the delivery of thousands of new homes, Council will play a significant role in ensuring the community’s best interests are served.
“We will continue to deliver our essential day to day services and maintain and invest in our parks, roads, libraries and community facilities while at the same time ensuring fiscal responsibility.”
Mayor El-Hayek added that while delivering for the community must be a priority, we must also have a heart and soul.
“If that means showing support, or speaking out for those who need a voice,
CR MARTIN ZAITER TO LEAD PARRAMATTA AS LORD MAYOR
Parramatta City of Parramatta Council elected
Councillor Martin Zaiter as its new Lord Mayor.
Councillor Zaiter, who represents the Parramatta Ward and has previously served four years on Council, said he is looking forward to leading Parramatta as it embarks on its continued transformation.
“We are home to the smartest minds, brilliant creatives and promising talent across many industries and we are committed to
whether it is speaking up for domestic violence victims, or raising funds for the homeless, or taking a stance and highlighting humanitarian concerns abroad, I will not resile from doing so.
Mayor El-Hayek was first elected to the merged Canterbury-Bankstown Council in 2017 and served twice as deputy Mayor before being elected as Mayor in May 2023.
Deputy Mayor Karl Saleh OAM has served as a Councillor since being elected in 2004. He previously served as Deputy Mayor on the former Canterbury Council for three terms.
Mayor El-Hayek congratulated the newly elected Councillors and imparted some words of advice.
“We must lead by example and respect each other’s views, even though we may not always agree with them. Constructive debate is healthy, disruptive
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
behaviour is not acceptable and will be called out!”
The makeup of the new Council consists of eight Labor, three Liberals, one Community Voice of Australia, one Greens, one Our Local Community and one Independent. Nine of the councillors have been re-elected, while the remaining six are starting their first terms.
CanterburyBankstown’s newly elected Councillors are:
Bankstown (Darani)
- Clr Bilal El-Hayek
- Clr Khal Asfour
- Clr George Zakhia
Bass Hill (Burra)
- Clr Saud Abu-Samen
- Clr Chris Cahill
- Clr Rachelle Harika
Canterbury (Budjar)
- Clr Conroy Blood
- Clr Barbara Coorey
- Clr Clare Raffan
Revesby (Bunya)
- Clr Wendy Lindsay
- Clr David Walsh
- Clr Jennifer Walther
Roselands (Bunmarra)
- Clr Karl Saleh OAM
- Clr Sherin Akther
- Clr Harry Stavrinos
making Parramatta the best place to live, work and play,” Cr Zaiter said.
“We know the cost of living pressures families are under and recognise the need to ensure bang for buck from the services and projects we deliver across every community in our LGA.
“The next two years will be critical to realising our vision for global Parramatta and the world of opportunity that comes with it for our community – not just in our CBD but in every suburb.
“In the coming months, we will reopen Lake Parramatta’s swimming area, deliver
our flagship event Parramatta Lanes and open a range of projects for our community to enjoy including the Stewart Street Escarpment Lookout and the Junction Street Plaza which has transformed an unloved area beneath the M4 into a vibrant, recreational space.”
Council also elected Councillor Cameron MacLean as its Deputy Lord Mayor at the meeting.
Councillor MacLean, who was first elected to Council in 2021 and represents the Epping Ward, said he was proud to again be able to serve the City as Deputy Lord Mayor.
“I look forward to working alongside Lord Mayor Cr Zaiter and my fellow councillors to deliver on our vision for the City,” Cr MacLean said.
“We need to ensure
Parramatta is at the forefront of decision making at every level of government and that we continue laying the building blocks for a bright future.”
Cr Zaiter will hold the
position of Lord Mayor until September 2026. Cr MacLean will hold the position of Deputy Lord Mayor until September 2025.
From right: Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter and Deputy Lord Mayor Cameron MacLean
Peace in Palestine
Who are the Australian Citizens Party?
You may not have heard of the Australian Citizens Party (ACP), because although it was established in 1988, the major parties and mainstream media regard us as a threat to their comfortable status quo.
We have contested twelve Federal elections and numerous State elections, and even OUTSIDE of Parliament we have canvassed for an awareness of the need to restore Australia’s Economic and National Sovereighty by:
• Fighting for our productive industries
• Opposing “green” ideology that promotes de-industrialisation
• Fighting privatisation of government assets and essential services
• Cooperating internationally for a more fair and just world economy
• Publishing in-depth Australian history research on national independence and the original Commonwealth Bank
• Opposing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and now the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and the talk of war against China.
• Fighting police-state “terrorism” laws that target not just Muslim communities but all Australians
• Debunking media and government lies against Muslim and Chinese communities
• Exposing the agenda behind Scott Morrison’s attack on Australia Post
The Fatima Payman affair was a wake-up call to the Muslim Community.
• Fighting bank closures in regional towns and suburbs
• Saving democratic oversight over the Reserve Bank
• Achieving a Senate inquiry which recommended the government consider a public post office People’s Bank
The Policy Principles of the Australian Citizens Party (not driven by ideological or political expediency) appears to have much in common with Islamic tradition.
We believe that a People’s Bank should have a socially constructive mandate—not a profit-driven motive, and like the Bayt-ul mal, have considerations of social well-being as its prime function; social well-being accordingly stimulated by financing infrastructure projects (like the Iron Boomerang Programme - https://citizensparty.org.au/iron-boomerang)
We believe in safeguarding and enhancing democracy through participatory democracy in the form of Citizens Assemblies (a governance practice being adopted in many countries). This accords with the practice of Shura—i.e community consensus through community consultations.
Return Government to the People
Citizens Party Policy Platform Launch Sunday, 17 November 2024 — Melbourne, Victoria Register to attend in person: https://citizensparty.org.au/register Watch LIVE Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/p2mjAjQl8z0
Australian Citizens Party
P: 1800 636 432 A: PO Box 376, Coburg VIC 3058
E: info@citizensparty.org.au W: www.citizensparty.org.au
Authorised by Craig Isherwood, Citizens Party, 595 Sydney Road, Coburg, Victoria 3058.
Dr. Hakim Gassiep ACP Community Liaison
Robert Barwick ACP Senate Candidate
THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BRAND-NEW JUNIOR PRIMARY PLAYGROUND AT ICOM
This massive space is designed to offer endless fun and enjoyment for our students. From multiple slides, climbing equipment and flying fox, the playground is packed with exciting features.
ICOM’S LEADERSHIP TRIP TO UMRAH AND TURKEY HAS COME TO A CLOSE
Our students embarked on a profound journey to the holiest cities in Islam, Mecca and Medina, which deepened their faith, enriched their understanding of our deen, and provided
unforgettable experiences. Alhamdulillah, they have returned with valuable insights and memories of witnessing the Kaaba, praying in the Harams of Mecca and Medina, and visiting the grave of Prophet PBUH.
In addition to their spiritual journey, our students explored Istanbul, Turkey, delving into the rich
history of the Ottoman civilization. They visited some of Turkey’s greatest mosques, including the magnificent Hagia Sophia Mosque, participated in early morning prayers at the historic Fatih Mosque, and experienced the grandeur of the Grand Çamlıca Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Turkey.
ICCV ISLAMIC CO-ORDINATING COUNCIL OF VICTORIA
Helping Australian businesses export
halal products to over 140 countries
ICCV is the largest Halal certification organisation in Australia servicing clients locally and internationally.
ICCV is responsible for the certification, monitoring, and supervision of Halal food for the domestic market as well as the export market.
Clients cover a range of sectors including abattoirs, food processing businesses, transportation and cold storage operators.
We are the largest halal certification body in Australia. Professional, experienced and trusted.
We monitor the certified businesses for compliance of halal requirements.
We provide a means for direct supervision in house for quality assurance.
We work with abattoirs to get and keep their halal certification.
ACCREDITED MARKETS
ICCV is specifically accredited within these Muslim majority countries.
Our certification is approved for all halal importing countries.
We provide full turnkey solution for FGMs to get halal.
Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Brunei, Oman, Kingdom of Bahrain,Tunisia,Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Iran, Kosova, Morocco, Maldives.
We provide logistics companies for cold room and transport to get halal.
Our certificate is approved in countries that now require halal certificate if goods have halal stamps:
Canada, South Korea, China, European Union (EU), New Zealand, Russia Federation, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, United States of America (USA).
NEW COUNCIL SWORN
Liverpool
The recently elected Mayor and Councillors of Liverpool City Council have officially been sworn into office at a short ceremony in the Liverpool Council Chambers.
Mayor Ned Mannoun - a popularly elected Mayor - has been returned to office. A Deputy Mayor will be elected on Wednesday 16 October at the first meeting of the new Council.
Speaking at the ceremony, Acting CEO Jason Breton welcomed the newly sworn in Mayor and Councillors.
“On behalf of the staff of Liverpool City Council, I congratulate the newlyelected Councillors and wish them well for the coming fouryear term,” he said.
“We welcome new Councillors Emmanuel Adjei, Matthew Harte, Mira Ibrahim, Samir Karnib and Ethan Monaghan.
“We welcome back Mayor Ned Mannoun and Councillors Richard Ammoun, Dr Betty Green, Peter Harle, Fiona Macnaught, and Peter Ristevski – who returns as a former Councillor from the 2012-16 term.
“The people of Liverpool have spoken and have elected you
all to be their civic leaders.
“Your operational team will work with you so together we provide the best possible outcomes for those we both serve – the residents of Liverpool and those who do business here.
“The community is our joint focus and we have a joint
responsibility for delivering a solutions-based approach for the entire population of the city.
“You will come to council meetings with ideas and policies and, similarly, the council officers will be putting forward ideas and improvements for your consideration.
“Together, we can shape the future of our global city, our fast-expanding city, our highly successful city.
“The council team and I look forward to what the future holds and look forward to shaping it to be a city of innovation and prosperity.”
CUMBERLAND WELCOMES NEW MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR TO THE NEW TERM OF COUNCIL
Cumberland Council is pleased to announce the election of Councillor Ola Hamed as Mayor and Councillor Michael Zaiter as Deputy Mayor of Cumberland Council, following an Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.
Councillor Ola Hamed, who has served as a Cumberland Councillor for seven years, will lead the Council as Mayor for the next two years.
Commenting on her appointment, Mayor Hamed said it was an honour and privilege to be elected to serve the Cumberland community as Mayor.
“I’m truly honoured to be sworn in as the Mayor of Cumberland City Council and as the first ever Muslim woman of Lebanese heritage. Alongside of course Deputy Mayor Zaiter who also happens to be of Lebanese heritage. Our Labor and our Liberal partnership reflects our commitment to a prosperous future for the residents of Cumberland. One of my immediate priorities is to unify this chamber, and indeed the
community, because that’s what civic leadership should always be about.” said Mayor Hamed.
“Cumberland’s diversity is our greatest asset, and we must celebrate it. I look forward to continuing honouring occasions like Nowruz, Ramadan, Diwali, Lunar New Year, and our major events such as Australia Day, Easter and Christmas.”
“I extend my hand to each and every single one of you. I’m seeking your professionalism and
cooperation as we address our shared priorities and challenges. Let’s build on the commendable work of former Mayor Lisa Lake, deliver on those key strategies developed in the previous term, which I know she had just worked so hard on. It will take all of us, of course, collaborating despite our differences to make a meaningful impact to this community”.
Additionally, the Mayor welcomed Councillor Michael Zaiter as the newly elected Deputy Mayor.
Deputy Mayor Zaiter expressed his eagerness to serve the Cumberland community in the year ahead.
“I’d like to congratulate you on your election to the Chair, and I’m looking forward to working closely with you as we serve the residents and ratepayers of Cumberland Council.”
“The job of the Councillors tonight is to serve the people of Cumberland. To achieve this, it is important that we manage differences so that we have stability and good governance in this council over the next four years.”
“We at Cumberland are blessed to have a fantastic group of individuals who go out of their way to look after our community. It has been a pleasure to work with them over the many years that I’ve been a councillor. I look forward to working with them to continue providing positive results for our community.” he said.
Councillors extended their congratulations to both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor on their new roles.
Council’s 15 elected
representatives were officially declared by the NSW Electoral Commission in early October following the Local Government elections held on 14 September 2024. Councillors took an Oath of Office during Council’s Extraordinary meeting and will serve the Cumberland community for the next 4 years.
Representing 5 wards across the Local Government Area, Cumberland’s Councillors for the Granville Ward are Councillors Steve Christou, Joseph Rahme and Ola Hamed. Greystanes Ward, Councillors Diane Colman, Eddy Sarkis and Nadima Kafrouni-Saba. Regents Park Ward, Councillors Enver Yasar, Helen Hughes and Steve Yang. South Granville Ward, Councillors Paul Garrard, Ahmed Ouf and Glenn Elmore, and Wentworthville Ward, Councillors Michael Zaiter, Suman Saha and Sujan Selventhiran.
For more information and contact details of the newly elected Mayor and Councillors, please visit: https://www. cumberland.nsw.gov.au/ councillors
From right: Mayor Ola Hamed, Deputy Mayor Michael Zaiter
Councillors Peter Ristevski, Mira Ibrahim, Ethan Monaghan, Dr Betty Green,Samir Karnib, Mayor Ned Mannoun, Matthew Harte, Richard Ammoun,Peter Harle, Fiona Macnaught, and Emmanuel Adjei.
SILENT VOICES: MULTIFAITH AND MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP AT A CROSSROADS
Once-vital institutions for multiculturalism and interfaith dialogue have had their voices effectively muted. Despite this, we continue to tout our success as a multicultural nation - an increasingly hollow claim in light of such failures of leadership.
As a Muslim community leader who has spent over a decade deeply engaged in multifaith and multicultural initiatives with the altruistic aim of fostering social cohesion and strengthening understanding between the Jewish and Muslim communities, I now find myself questioning the very beliefs and values I once held dear.
Over the past twelve months, decades of interfaith and cultural bridge-building have been abrupted and severely tested due to a collective failure to speak up and demonstrate the leadership they once sought to inspire.
That said, we must also recognise the efforts of many respected individuals across various communities who have spoken up and shared their stories. A recent encouraging example is Louise Adler’s piece, “These are the things I’ve learnt you can’t ask about Israel” (The Age, Saturday 21st September 2024).
For years, the Victorian government, through its various multicultural departments and agencies, has invested in nurturing leadership within faith communities. Yet, in the face of this tragic crisis, we are left questioning whether these efforts toward a ‘successful
Nail Aykan
Twelve months after the events of October 7, the silence from Australia’s faith communities is deafening. Confronted with the devastating war on Gaza and the ongoing suffering of Palestinians, faith leaders had a moral duty to speak out against these injustices. Yet, they have largely remained absent, their influence fading into obscurity.
multicultural society’ and ‘peaceful coexistence’ were ever more than hollow rhetoric and empty policies on paper.
It is particularly striking that the Multicultural Framework Review: Towards Fairness - A Multicultural Australia for All, launched in August 2023 during this period of crisis. While the Review is an important step toward fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society, it falls short by not addressing the real-world impact of global conflicts, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
This conflict deeply affects Australia’s Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities, shaping their perspectives on social justice and identity. The review overlooks how these tensions influence intercommunal relations, missing a crucial opportunity to enhance social harmony.
The review had the potential to be a pivotal platform for promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue, particularly among communities impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By sidestepping this issue, it misses a significant opportunity to guide Australia toward meaningful reconciliation—both within its diverse population and in its broader commitment to global justice and human rights. Engaging with these tensions could have fostered understanding and cooperation, strengthened social cohesion, and positioned Australia as a leader in advocating for peace on the international stage.
The government’s failure to engage
with real-world geopolitical issues represents a missed opportunity for conflict resolution. By avoiding this critical dialogue, it risks alienating communities that look to their leaders for guidance on matters of justice and human rights. This neglect not only erodes trust but also weakens the credibility of multicultural leadership, diminishing its ability to build bridges between communities with differing perspectives on the conflict.
For Australia to realise its vision of a cohesive and inclusive society, it must confront these difficult conversations head-on, acknowledging the complexities of global issues that directly affect its multicultural fabric. Embracing this responsibility is essential for fostering understanding and collaboration, reinforcing the very foundations of social harmony we claim to uphold.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is pivotal to Australia’s multicultural future and attempts to sidestep this issue have led to a significant erosion of trust and confidence in our multicultural institutions and interfaith leadership. To be a truly effective multicultural society - one that sets an example for the worldour policies must reflect the realities of our diverse population and address the complex global issues that resonate deeply within local communities.
Our leadership has been put to the test over the past twelve months, offering many valuable lessons. After many years of building social cohesion, we cannot allow it to
fall apart. How we respond to this crisis will reveal our true resilience, our commitment to shared values, and the real ‘success story’ of our multicultural and multifaith society. A path forward begins with more people sharing their stories, as Louise Adler so courageously illustrated. It’s through personal narratives that we foster understanding and rebuild the connections essential for our community’s harmony and wellbeing. We must rekindle vital conversations. Open dialogue is the lifeblood of a cohesive society.
If we are to rebuild trust and foster meaningful dialogue among the leadership circles that matter, we must seize the lessons of the past year and act with conviction. Our future social cohesion depends on our commitment to not just coexistence but also genuine understanding and moral leadership. Without this, our multicultural aspirations will be reduced to mere rhetoric, lacking the substance needed to truly bridge our diverse communities.
Blacktown City
Mayor Brad Bunting has been elected to lead a new era for NSW’s largest council, following an extraordinary meeting.
A lifelong Mount Druitt resident and father of three, Mayor Bunting was excited to guide Blacktown City Council.
“I am proud to represent a big, ambitious and culturally diverse area that so many people choose to call home,” he said.
“This is such an exciting time for Blacktown City.
Council will continue with a program of transformational projects that will provide cultural, social, health and economic benefits across the city.
“And we eagerly await the Blacktown Quarter project that will reinvigorate the city centre and bring investment and jobs.”
Councillors voted for Mayor
MAYOR BRAD BUNTING ELECTED TO GUIDE PROMISING FUTURE
Bunting, ahead of second candidate Cr Jess Diaz.
Cr Bob Fitzgerald was elected Deputy Mayor.
Mayor Bunting was first elected to the top role in May 2024, following the passing of long-term Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM.
The re-elected Mayor is looking forward to 7 infrastructure projects, funded by the NSW Government’s $2 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.
The projects are:
• revitalisation of the Mount Druitt Hub
• new Seven Hills Portal Community Hub
• new Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
• new First Nations Cultural
Hub at Mount Druitt
• renewed Blacktown Aquatic Centre
• renewed Mount Druitt Swimming Centre
• new, expanded PCYC in Mount Druitt.
AUSTRALIA’S WINTER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS REPORT CARDIMPACT OF RSV, INFLUENZA AND COVID-19 IN 2024
Moderna Australia has conducted an analysis of the 2024 winter period which revealed a significant burden of respiratory illnesses across the country. In the year to 6 October 2024, ~ 744,000 laboratoryconfirmed cases of vaccinepreventable viral respiratory infections—RSV, influenza, and COVID-19—were reported, with ~160,490 of these in adults 65 years and above. However, this likely underrepresents the true scale due to undertesting within the community.
Respiratory Illnesses by the Numbers:
COVID-19 remains the dominant respiratory threat among older adults. Around 40% of confirmed cases this winter were in those aged 65 years and above, with hospitalisations notably
higher for those aged over 75. Sadly, 1,854 people have died this year-to-date with COVID-19, with deaths in the 60+ age group estimated to be ~4 times higher than deaths with influenza (1). Despite the ongoing risk from COVID-19, just over one-quarter of people aged 75+ have received a COVID-19 vaccine in the last six months.
Influenza posed a significant challenge, peaking in early July. The laboratory-notified number of cases this year exceeds both last year and the five-year average. Vaccine coverage rates for 65+ were lower than the four previous years at 60.5%.
RSV, often associated with children, significantly affected older Australians this winter. RSV laboratory notified cases in adults
aged 65+ were ~58% of the number of influenza cases in the same age group. In Queensland, the percentage of hospitalisations per RSV notifications was higher in adults 65+ than in infants 6-months to 64 years. Of the 151
RSV-associated deaths reported nationally to date in 2024, 90% occurred in those aged 60+, underscoring the potential for severe impact of RSV on older Australians .
In August this year, Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) called for national adult vaccination targets to address the growing burden of respiratory illnesses, emphasising the stark contrast between Australia’s world-leading childhood vaccination rates—driven by clear targets—and the significantly lower rates among adults. In a survey of over 3,300 Australians, the LFA found overwhelming
support for clearer, more accessible vaccination information, especially for older Australians and those with lung conditions. The resulting Vital Vaccines for Australian Adults information paper showed that 83% of Australians support the introduction of national adult vaccination targets.
LFA CEO Mark Brooke noted, “Australia’s child vaccination coverage is world leading. Our adult coverage is not. The most common barriers to adult vaccination are outof-pocket costs, confusion over which vaccines are free, and uncertainty about what vaccines are needed and when.”
“Given the heightened morbidity and mortality risk among older Australians and those with a lung condition, it is vital for those eligible to take preventative, proactive measures to protect their health,” he said.
Andrea McCracken, Moderna’s Director of Medical Affairs, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This winter has highlighted a major opportunity to reduce the burden of illness, hospitalisation, and death through improved vaccination rates. The decline in both childhood and adult vaccination rates this year underscores the critical need to address these gaps and strengthen protection, particularly for our vulnerable populations.”
“As the Department of Health and Aged Care develops the National Immunisation Strategy for 2025-2030, we strongly encourage consideration and inclusion of the recommendations made in the Lung Foundation Australia’s Vital Vaccines for Australian Adult’s information paper,” she said.
UNITY OF PURPOSE, MOBILISING POLITICAL STRENGTH
By Ghaith Krayem Muslim Votes Matter
As members of a community repeatedly marginalised and overlooked by political forces, the events of the past year demand a radical shift in our approach. We are at an important phase, one that compels us to reevaluate our political engagement and strategise for substantive change. The current political climate, stained by the blood of over 40,000 Palestinians and nearly 3,000 Lebanese, necessitates that we move beyond mere rhetoric
and confidential meetings that have historically led to unfulfilled promises.
For decades, our community has navigated the intricate corridors of political engagement, often aligning with powers that assure attention and protection. Yet, the brutal reality that unfolds daily in Gaza and Lebanon paints a very different picture—one where our hopes and the promises made to us are dashed repeatedly. These atrocities are not just news items, they are a call to action, highlighting the failure of those political approaches we once trusted.
This moment in history challenges us to be singular in our focus, to channel our collective energies towards achieving one crucial objective, the wielding of our political power to influence the political landscape. It is no longer sufficient to engage in dialogue that does not translate into concrete action or to support politicians whose actions betray their words.
As a community, we need to mature politically. The most fundamental political power we possess is our vote, and the capacity to sway election results. This power must
be mobilised effectively, with a clear understanding that the cost of inaction is the continued disenfranchisement and suffering of countless lives.
The upcoming election presents a critical opportunity. It is a chance to voice our collective dissent against a political status quo that has not only taken us for granted but has also stood idly by as atrocities mount. No matter the nature of ‘confidential’ meetings, or the personal relationships we might have cultivated with individual politicians, the clear reality is that these have prevented the horrors that have unfolded.
Our focus must be unwavering. We need to exercise our electoral power with precision and unity, ensuring that every member of our community understands the weight of their vote. This isn’t merely about changing leaders or parties; it’s about affirming our presence and our rights within a political framework that has long overlooked us.
This call to action is based deeply in our faith and our moral framework, which compel us to act for the greater good, even when it might not align with our immediate or
individual interests. The long-term welfare of our community, and indeed our moral integrity, depends on our ability to stand firm in our convictions and to act decisively.
The sacrifices required to change our approach are not minor, nor are the challenges we face insignificant. However, the alternative is a continuation of the status quo, where our voices remain unheard, and our pains unaddressed. As we reflect on the losses of the past year, let us focus our grief into a resolute commitment to political action. Let us step into the polling booths with a clear understanding of our power and the change it can bring.
The time for passive engagement has passed. Now is the time to shape the future, not just for our community but for all who suffer under oppression and neglect. Our unity, our votes, and our relentless pursuit of justice are the tools we must wield in this electoral cycle. Let’s not set ourselves back by decades. Let’s move forward, with dignity and conviction, for the longterm good of our community and for the principles we hold dear.
Gift of Kindness
SAYING “NO”: BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH FIRMNESS
By Jamilah Samian | www.coolmumsuperdad.com
Some parents worry that saying “No” might make them seem harsh or unlov ing, especially when their kids get upset. But setting boundaries is actually a key part of parenting. It’s not about being mean—it’s about guiding your children to become responsible, thoughtful, and emotionally healthy people. Saying “No” can actually be one of the kindest things you do for them because it helps them grow and thrive in the long run.
Begin Saying No Shows Love:
When you say “No” to protect your child or guide them to make better choices, you’re showing love and care. It’s not about controlling them; it’s about keeping them safe and helping them grow. For example, saying, “No, you can’t play with that sharp object because I care about your safety,” teaches them that your boundaries are there to protect, not to punish.
Helping Them Build Emotional Strength:
By saying “No” when necessary, you’re teaching your child resilience. When they face disappointment with your support, they’re learning how to handle challenges. For instance, if you say, “I know you’re sad that we can’t go to the amusement park today because it’s raining, but let’s plan for another day,” you’re helping them manage
disappointment—a skill they’ll need throughout life.
Teaching SelfControl is a Gift:
Sometimes, being kind means teaching tough lessons. Saying “No” to things that aren’t good for them helps your child develop self-control and patience. Like when you say, “No, you can’t have another cookie. It’s important to take care of your body.” It might feel strict at the moment, but it’s a kind act toward their future health and well-being.
Encouraging Responsibility:
Saying “No” helps children understand responsibility. When you don’t give in to their every whim, you’re teaching them to value their decisions and think about how their actions affect others. For example, saying, “No, you can’t skip your chores. We all have responsibilities, and doing your part helps the family,”
shows them that kindness includes contributing and being responsible.
Protecting Their Emotional WellBeing:
Saying “No” with kindness helps protect your child’s emotional health by teaching them it’s okay not to always get what they want. It helps them learn to handle their feelings. For example, “No, I can’t let you have more screen time because too much will make you feel tired and grumpy. Let’s do something else together.” Here, you’re thinking about their long-term happiness, not just what they want right now.
Building Trust Through Consistency:
A consistent “No” shows your child that you’re reliable and mean what you say. Kids feel more secure when they know they can trust you to follow through, even if they don’t
always like the answer. For instance, saying, “No, we can’t go to the park now, but we’ll go tomorrow like I promised, InshaaAllah (God willing),” shows that your kindness comes through reliability and builds trust between you and your child.
Teaching Respect for Others:
Kindness also means teaching respect, and saying “No” helps your child learn to respect boundaries—both theirs and others’. This is a skill they’ll need to build healthy relationships. For example, “No, you can’t interrupt your sister while she’s talking. Everyone deserves a turn to speak.” This “No” teaches them the importance of respecting others’ feelings and space.
Helping Them Understand Consequences:
When you say “No” and explain why, you’re giving your child valuable insight into how their actions have
consequences. For example, saying, “No, I can’t let you stay up late because you’ll be too tired for school tomorrow, and that will make your day harder,” is a kind way to help them understand the impact of their choices on their future well-being.
Saying “No” is often seen as tough or strict, but it’s actually one of the most loving things you can do as a parent. It shows your child that you care enough to set limits that will protect them, guide them, and help them grow. This kind of kindness prepares them for the real world, where boundaries exist, and helps them develop the resilience they’ll need to handle those boundaries gracefully.
Jamilah Samian is the author of “Raise Me Right”, “Cool Mum Super Dad”, “Leadership In Parenting”, “The Kindness Miracle”, “Parenting Generation Y & Z”, “Cool Boys Super Sons” and “77 Power Parent Tips”.
