In short:
A convenor of the Muslim Vote movement says he plans to announce candidates for two federal seats in Sydney currently held by Labor as early as next week.
The two seats, Blaxland and Watson, have the largest percentage of Muslim constituents in the country.
What’s next?
The movement claims the federal government’s lack of support for Palestinians is driving voters away from Labor.
The convenor of a “teal-style” Muslim Vote movement targeting federal Labor seats says he plans to announce the first candidates for two Western Sydney seats next week.
The safe Labor seats, held by Education Minister Jason Clare and Employment Minister Tony Burke, also have the largest Muslim constituencies in the country.
“The Muslim Vote” campaign, whose website said it was “empowering Australian Muslims in the electoral process”, began last year in the aftermath of the October 7 attack on Israel.
Speaking to the ABC for the first time about the campaign, one of its convenors Sheikh Wesam Charkawi said Muslim communities were outraged the Labor government has not been tougher on Israel during the war in Gaza.
He also did not rule out a “future” conversation about supporting Labor senator Fatima Payman, who the prime minister has speculated may leave the party after she was ousted from caucus for crossing the floor in support of a Greens motion to recognise the state of Palestine.
‘Weak’ support for Palestinians driving voters from Labor, Sheikh Charkawai claims
Sheikh Charkawi said The Muslim Vote was not a political party, but that the first candidates backed by the “voting bloc” would likely be announced as early as next week.
“The candidates will be speaking on their own terms … and running their own campaigns,” he said.
Candidates supported by the campaign don’t have to adhere to the Muslim faith, but Sheikh Charkawi ruled out backing Greens or Labor candidates.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Mr Clare’s seat of Blaxland, which takes in suburbs such as Auburn, Chester Hill, Condell Park and part of Bankstown, has 31.7 per cent Muslim voters.
Mr Clare finished with 64.9 per cent of the vote (after preferences) at the 2022 election, and holds the seat on a very safe 14.7 per cent margin.
Labor supports a two-state solution in the Middle East, but pro-Palestinian protests outside government MPs’ offices point to concern among Muslim voters that Labor is not supportive enough.
Sheikh Charkawi said there had been a “significant” shift away from Labor in Blaxland and Watson due to what The Muslim Vote website labels as “weak” support for Palestinians.
“Thirty per cent of voters in the seat of Blaxland wanted representation on an issue that they didn’t get out of Jason Clare. So why should they put him there?” he said.
“You can’t be neutral on a genocide,” he added.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) earlier this year ruled Israel must do everything in its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide in Gaza.
Israel rejected the genocide allegations levelled against it brought to the court by South Africa.
The Gaza Health Ministry said since October 7 Israel has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians.
The Israeli government said 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack.
“At the moment people are saying, well, I’m going to change my vote at the next election,” said Sheikh Charkawi.
‘The community doesn’t want a Liberal government either’
Mr Burke’s seat of Watson shares a border with Blaxland, and takes in the other part of Bankstown, as well as suburbs such as Punchbowl, Lakemba and Croydon Park.
Mr Burke holds the seat with a margin of 13.5 per cent, and won 65.1 per cent of the vote in 2022 (after preferences).
His Liberal opponent, a Muslim woman and local councillor Sazeda Akter won 34.9 per cent of the vote.
ABS data shows just over 25 per cent of the electorate is Muslim.
Asked if a shift away from Labor could end up getting a Coalition government elected, Sheikh Charkawi said it was about punishing Labor.
“The community doesn’t want a Liberal government either.
“And there could be an unintended consequence.
“But ultimately, if you don’t participate, and if you don’t effectively flex to show the power of your vote, how will they ever take your vote seriously?”
Neither Mr Clare nor Mr Burke would comment on the Muslim Vote movement.
Gaza unites Sydney’s Muslim community
Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir believed the war in Gaza had united Sydney’s Muslim community in support of the Palestinian cause.
“I was born in this country, I have never ever seen an issue that’s garnered 100 per cent support of a community like the crisis in Gaza,” he said.
But he said politicians such as Senator Payman, who are vocal supporters of the Palestinian cause, were more effective advocates if they stayed as Labor members.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that Senator Payman had “placed herself outside the Labor party” and would make an announcement in coming days about her future.
Sheikh Charkawi would not confirm if he had spoken with Senator Payman, but would not rule out backing her as an independent candidate.
“If there’s a conversation that unfolds in the future between the Muslim Vote and other organisations and Fatima Payman, I would actually welcome that,” he said.
“I think it’s deplorable the way that Senator Payman has been treated.”
The Muslim Vote will not be the only “Teal-style” conglomerate targeting Labor in Western Sydney.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone and independent Member for Fowler, Dai Le, have renamed their self-titled political party (formerly the Dai Le and Frank Carbone Network) to ‘Western Sydney Community’, which will be registered by the Australian Electoral Commission this week.
The ABC understands several high-profile Western Sydney mayors are considering running under the banner of Western Sydney Community, including Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun.
But Mr Carbone and Mr Mannoun have both told the ABC their focus is on the local council elections in September.
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