Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined a chorus of politicians in rejecting “faith-based political parties” amid reports Senator Fatima Payman could establish an Islamic political movement.
Mr Albanese has scrambled in recent weeks to control the fallout from Ms Payman turning against Labor over their refusal to support Palestinian statehood.
The 29-year-old Muslim woman quit the Labor Party on Thursday and declared she would join the crossbench as an independent Senator.
During a press conference announcing her decision, Ms Payman did not rule out creating a political party to compete against Labor in electorates with large Muslim populations.
The Western Australian Senator revealed she had “conversations” with a coalition of Muslim groups about the possibility of running candidates and told reporters: “Watch this space.”
However, the Prime Minister has argued against such a movement and claimed non-secular politics would fester social division.
“I don’t think and don’t want Australia to go down the road of faith-based political parties because all that will do is undermine social cohesion,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Friday.
“It seems to me, as well, beyond obvious that it’s not in the interest of small and minority groups to isolate themselves – which is what a faith-based party system would do.”
The Prime Minister pointed toward the influx of asylum seekers and refugees to Australia who have fled countries ruled by religious governments.
“I note as well that many people who are refugees in Australia have fled theocracies, have fled regimes that have been based upon so-called religion,” he said.
It has been reported there are up to six seats in Melbourne and Sydney that could evict Labor in favour of a Muslim political representative.
Political group The Muslim Vote has announced it wanted to “mobilise the Muslim community to vote as a bloc” in the upcoming election.
Islamic community leader Dr Jamal Rifi has rejected the group and urged Muslim voters to continue to support existing political parties.
There has been broadly bipartisan opposition to the suggestion of sectarian political parties in Australia.
Shadow defence minister James Paterson told Sky News on Thursday there was a “credible” threat of faith-based politics but argued it would be a “retrograde step”.
Labor’s Assistant Energy Minister Jenny McAllister said: “My view is that you make better decisions with a diverse group of people.”
Independent Senator Zali Stegall professed religiously motivated politicians were “dangerous” but criticised career politicians for “capitalising” on the distress of the Gaza War.