‘Break the culture of silence’: City of Sydney councillor accuses Mick Mundine of sexual assault

Sydney city councillor Yvonne Weldon has confirmed she is the complainant alleging she was sexually abused as a child by prominent Sydney Indigenous leader Mick Mundine.

Mundine, 79, was on Thursday arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault, including sexual assault on a child, over alleged historical sexual assaults on a then 15-year-old Weldon in Redfern in June 1986.

Posting on Instagram, Weldon said she was speaking up to help break the silence around abuse.

“I have carried this for 40 years. It is time to no longer carry it,” she wrote.

“I came forward for the children who are here now and to break the culture of silence that allows abuse to continue. To other survivors of abuse in its many forms, you are not alone.

Weldon is an independent councillor and the first Aboriginal councillor in the City of Sydney. She was appointed in 2021, campaigning for social housing, greater representation of First Nations people in the public domain and a more inclusive city.

A strike force was established in December 2025 to investigate the allegations. Mundine was questioned for several hours at Newtown Police Station before being charged. He was granted police bail and will face Downing Centre Local Court next Wednesday.

Mundine, a Bundjalung man from Baryulgil in northern NSW, is the brother of legendary boxer Tony Mundine OAM, who died in August , and uncle to Anthony Mundine, Tony’s son, a former professional rugby league player and boxer. He is also related to political strategist, businessman and former politician, Warren Mundine.

He has been the chief executive of the Aboriginal Housing Company for most of its 50-year history. The organisation did not respond to questions about whether he would remain in his role.

Mundine has also held directorships in the Aboriginal Medical Service and the Redfern Aboriginal Corporation.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. For crisis support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au .

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