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Sydney council shelves HP in Israel ban

A Sydney Council will shell out $3 million of an estimated $4 million to replace IT products including its Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Motorola fleets in its boycott of products linked to Israel.
Written by AAP , Contributor and  Darren Pauli, Contributor

A Sydney Council will shell out $3 million of an estimated $4 million to replace IT products including its Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Motorola fleets in its boycott of products linked to Israel.

The Greens-dominated council is set to ditch a string of companies from concrete suppliers to car manufacturers Holden and Volvo, which are alleged to support Israel's occupation of Palestine, according to News Limited.

Marrickville Greens mayor Fiona Byrne was involved in Marrickville Council's adoption of a ban on Israeli products in line with the Global BSD Movement in protest over Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

A council business paper revealed a hit list of companies to either be banned from doing business with council or have their existing contracts cancelled.

The companies include HP, Chevrolet (Holden), Volvo, Unilever and Motorola, plus ReadyMix and Fulton Hogan concrete companies.

The paper showed that the council would have to spend $3 million alone to replace its HP computers.

Marrickville councillors will vote next Monday on whether the boycott, passed in December last year, will include ripping up all current contracts and services and disposing of equipment, or be confined to future dealings.

The four Labor councillors will seek to get the support of three independents to beat the five Greens and vote down the policy.

Hewlett-Packard has been contacted for comment.

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