Greens councillor denies antisemitism allegations over Brisbane council newsletter

A Brisbane Greens councillor has rejected claims she distributed an antisemitic, council-funded newsletter, describing the allegations as "shameful and defamatory".

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner on Wednesday released the findings of an independent investigation into a newsletter sent by Greens councillor Trina Massey to residents in her Gabba ward in September 2024.

The two-page publication discussed the Israel-Palestine conflict, referring to a "genocide" against Palestinians, and included an interview with a Palestinian refugee family living in Brisbane, as well as a condensed timeline of the conflict.

Six complaints were lodged with the Office of the Independent Assessor, with residents arguing the timeline was biased against Israel and failed to reference World War II, the Holocaust or the October 7 attacks.

An independent investigator commissioned by Brisbane City Council found the newsletter was not antisemitic. However, the report concluded Cr Massey had improperly used ratepayer funds to promote what it described as a "one-sided personal agenda" unrelated to core local government matters.

On Monday, the council's Ethics Committee directed Cr Massey to issue an apology and repay the $10,000 cost of producing and distributing the newsletter.

Speaking at a press conference, Cr Schrinner said the councillor had a moral obligation to apologise, though he would not confirm whether the Ethics Committee had the authority to compel compliance.

"We call on Cr Massey to stop fanning the flames of hatred and antisemitism," he said.

The Lord Mayor denied the timing of the report's release was linked to the recent Bondi terror attack in Sydney, which killed 15 people, saying the council had received the report on November 24 and required time to consider its findings.

Cr Massey accused the LNP of politicising the tragedy to attack her advocacy.

"It is disgraceful that this LNP politician would cynically exploit the nation's grief in an attempt to silence my community's strong advocacy for peace," she said.

She said the Lord Mayor's comments were not supported by the findings of the independent report and reiterated her denial that the newsletter was antisemitic.

Cr Massey declined to say whether she would repay the $10,000, saying she was considering her options.