Update from the Petition Organiser
February 2026

Dear friends and fellow signatories,

Thank you to all 240 of you who have signed this petition calling on our local council to join Sydney and Byron Bay in passing a BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) motion. Your support means a great deal.

I need to let you know that I am temporarily stepping back from this campaign.

I am currently facing criminal charges in Katoomba Local Court relating to my advocacy on Gaza and Palestinian rights — specifically, my persistent efforts to get a response from our Federal MP on this issue. My court date is 24 March 2026, and I need to focus my energy on defending myself over the coming weeks.

I want to be clear: I have not given up on this cause. If anything, being prosecuted for political speech has only deepened my conviction that speaking up — loudly and persistently — is exactly what this moment demands.

For a bit of background, that photo was taken over a decade ago, in Tahrir Square. Soon after I was facing charges brought by the military Junta. I beat those, and I will beat these too. 

How you can help:

🔁 Share this petition — keep the momentum going while I'm unable to
📣 Contact the council directly — you don't need me to do that
💛 Spread the word about what's happening — a constituent being charged for emailing their MP about Gaza is itself a story worth telling
⚖️ Follow my case — updates will be posted here as they happen
I hope to be back with renewed energy after March. Thank you for your patience, your solidarity, and your commitment to justice.

In solidarity,
Austin Mackell