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ABC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Muslim voters say election delivered strong message despite Labor landslide
Muslim Australian Hawraa put Labor last on her ballot paper for the first time at this year's federal election. Hawraa, who only wants to be identified by her first name, said she wanted to send Labor a message: "Do not take us for granted." A voter in the Victorian electorate of Wills, Hawraa was "disappointed" at news Despite the result, Hawraa said the close race and first preference vote swing towards Ms Ratnam gave her hope, and showed the Muslim community was energised . "We've learned a lot from this time, and it is only the start of the mobilisation of the community and of the Muslim community," Hawraa said. " More and more people are wanting a more dynamic crossbench … a progressive crossbench that will push Labor to do better and do more. " Samantha Ratnam spent the final days before the election speaking with voters at early-polling stations. ( ABC News: Nicholas White ) Many Australian Muslims have told the ABC they feel "betrayed" by the government's Wills was Labor heartland, but now the seat that belonged to Bob Hawke is squarely in the marginal column. Advocacy group Muslim Votes Matter targeted federal seats across Australia during the campaign and despite Labor's landslide win, a closer inspection of the results told a more nuanced story, said the group's spokesperson Ghaith Krayem. "When we look at those electorates, those seats where we targeted our effort, a different picture emerges," said Mr Krayem. He pointed to the Wills and Calwell electorates in Victoria that recorded swings in primary votes away from Labor candidates. "There's no doubt in our mind what was different [in those two seats] was the mobilisation of our community." NSW results 'mind-blowing' A Muslim Vote convener campaigns for Ahmed Ouf, who stood as an independent in the seat of Blaxland. ( ABC News: Marcus Stimson ) In the two electorates with the largest Muslim population nationally, Watson and Blaxland in New South Wales, Muslim Votes Matter and a second, unaffiliated lobby group, The Muslim Vote, endorsed two independent candidates. In Watson, the groups backed Muslim candidate Ziad Bassyouny to run against Labor's Tony Burke. In Blaxland, Ahmed Ouf ran against another Labor incumbent, Jason Clare. While neither independent won, and Labor retained both seats, the pair did secure a lot of first preference votes, said Mr Krayem. Photo shows Sheikh Wesam Charkawi Muslim Vote convener The Muslim Vote campaign has taken aim at the Labor Party's "failure to stand for justice on Gaza and Palestine" as it looks to unseat Parramatta MP Andrew Charlton. "For Ahmed to get 19 per cent primary, and for Ziad to get almost 17 per cent on primary, that is a significant achievement," he said. "They've set themselves up really well for the next election." Zakariaa Wahid, Islamic Council of Victoria chief executive, said the primary vote results were "mind-blowing". "They [the candidates] did not exist until this election; we're not talking about independents [who] have been around for years and years," said Mr Wahid. Zakaria Wahid from the Islamic Council of Victoria said there was growing political awareness in the Muslim community. ( Supplied ) Those results showed the Muslim community mobilised for this federal election like never before, he added. "We've seen political literacy and political awareness in the Muslim community in a way that has never happened, not even close to it. "There's a growing push and a growing number of people that are becoming part of this voting bloc". Gaza at the heart of voters The AEC continues to count votes in some tightly contested seats. ( ABC News: Mackenzie Heard ) Among them is Shiraz, a second-generation migrant , who lives in the Victorian seat of Scullin and has traditionally voted Labor. For the first time at a federal election, Shiraz voted differently. Shiraz, who also only wants to be known by his first name, said he preferenced Greens first, followed by independent candidates. "We want the government to hear our voices and concerns, not take our votes and support for granted," he said. " It sends a strong message that we do have a voice that can't be ignored. " He added he also wanted to break down the long-standing dominance of two major parties. Shiraz believed the major parties had not done enough to support Palestinian people and were too complacent in relation to Gaza. Hawraa, who is from southern Lebanon, said her community also felt "completely neglected and ignored". She said the community was disappointed that Australia continued to have an arms trade deal with Israel, Photo shows A young man gestures while speaking and sitting on the couch Dissatisfaction with the Albanese government's stance on Israel-Palestine among many Arab and Muslim voters threatens to unseat Labor MPs, in some places for the first time. However, many Muslim community members who spoke to the ABC said the "swing against Labor" had been taking place over a long time. They said they felt the federal government had responded more strongly to a spate of antisemitic attacks last year compared with the increased number of Islamophobia attacks. The community members had also been calling for "[But] Gaza was the largest example of how Labor has consistently become disconnected with this Muslim voter base, and especially how people feel taken advantage of," he said. "Labor's lack of effort and lack of effective response to a genocide that's going on coupled with various other elements such as the rising Islamophobia … that will definitely be a factor in the minds of Muslims." Rita Jabri Markwell, from the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network, said even though the impact of the Muslim vote was not "as strong as it could have been", Labor candidates were still left fighting to retain their seats. "It really is a warning to those members of parliament that if they continue to ignore those voters they may be paying an even greater price at the next election," the lawyer said.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Greens candidate who wanted to deter Aussies from buying larger vehicles fails to win seat in parliament
A Greens candidate who previously proposed raising registration costs for larger vehicles has failed in her bid to enter federal parliament. Labor's Peter Khalil has retained the seat of Wills with 52.11 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote, narrowly defeating Greens contender Samantha Ratnam, who received 47.89 per cent. The final margin was 3,931 votes. Ms Ratman famously called for the government to increase registration fees and parking for larger vehicles like American-style pick-up trucks when she was a councillor for Melbourne 's City of Merri-bek. 'It's an undeniable fact that super-sized vehicles are dangerous. They have blind spots up to four metres in front of the vehicle,' Ms Ratnam said in 2024 'Large utes have a role in regional areas, but these luxury vehicles - that often cost upwards of $100,000 - have significantly higher emissions, and are more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists than regular passenger cars. 'If we want to lower our transport emissions and reduce road fatalities, we need to see less of these monster cars on our streets. 'Our roads were simply not designed for these trucks - we need to deter people from purchasing these vehicles.' Meanwhile there has been more bad news for Greens leader Adam Bandt. Polling expert Dr Kevin Bonham has said Mr Bandt's political career is over. 'Melbourne: ALP gain from Green,' he said on Tuesday night 'Seat has been moved to expected win status (for Labor).' He said that he avoids 'calling' seats but added: 'I project Bandt at 47.6 in the live count which is not recoverable'. Labor's Sarah Witty is currently leading in the race for the seat of Melbourne by an estimated 4,043 votes with a swing of 9.2 per cent, as of Tuesday night. Bandt needs around a third of preferences to retain his seat but the AEC's official preference counts reveal flows of under 26 per cent. Daily Mail Australia's Political Editor Peter van Onselen says Bandt is a goner, short of a miracle turnaround.
ABC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Labor faces off against the Greens in Melbourne's marginal inner north
For decades, Wills was considered Labor heartland. But now the seat that used to belong to one of Labor's heroes — Bob Hawke — is squarely in the marginal column. The electorate covering a chunk of Melbourne's northern suburbs has long taken in Fawkner, Brunswick, Pascoe Vale and Coburg: areas fairly close to the city, with big migrant communities that — until about 10 years ago — have mostly been working class areas. But recently its boundaries got a face lift from the Australian Electoral Commission and that's spelling trouble for the government. Wills moved down and moneyed up A recent redistribution has brought parts of affluent Fitzroy and Princes Hill into the electorate and jettisoned less well-off places like sections of Glenroy and Oak Park. But this area was changing long before any boundaries were re-drawn. Over the last two decades, as increasing house prices have driven people further and further north, the area has gentrified at pace. In 2002, Coburg — which sits around the middle of the electorate — was described in The Age as "just another unloved working-class suburb" at the "unfashionable end of the tram line." More people have voted early this year than ever before. ( ABC News: Darryl Torpy ) Now, the Pentridge prison, once the main jail for metro Melbourne, has become home to a Palace cinema, trendy restaurants and an "urban retreat". And some of Labor's long-term supporters have been pushed out of the electorate because of increased housing costs. This is an area the Greens have had their eyes on for over a decade, ever since the party managed to secure Adam Bandt's seat of Melbourne next door. But in all those years, they've never been able to cross the road. Trying to get to the other side Bisecting Coburg, and Wills itself, is Bell Street. Above it, to the north, Labor outpolled the Greens at every polling booth in 2022. Below it, to the wealthier south, the Greens beat Labor at nine booths compared to the major party's six. Samantha Ratnam is spending the final days before the election speaking with voters at early-polling stations. ( ABC News: Nicholas White ) It's a line the Greens have been trying to crack for years, even coming close to winning the seat in 2016 before Liberal preferences helped the seat's current MP Peter Khalil get it in the bag. Now the seat redistribution has changed the game, replacing areas Labor won with ones dominated by the Greens. Is the Bell St wall about to fall? Samantha Ratnam is a seasoned Victorian political operator, but now she's hoping to make the jump from state to federal politics. A former leader of the Victorian Greens in state parliament, she says she's been making sure she's spending plenty of time in the north of the seat. "We're hearing from a lot of people in the north who feel especially neglected in what they considered were very safe Labor seats at one time." Pinned to her lapel is a small ceramic watermelon pin — symbolising her support for Palestine. Samantha Ratnam is no stranger to Victorian politics but is hoping to make the jump to being a federal MP. ( ABC News: Nicholas White ) "People have been raising what's been happening to the Palestinian people and what they see as a gross injustice and the moral issue of our time," she says. For many in Wills, it is one of the things that could decide their vote on May 3. The area's local council, Merri-Bek, flew the Palestinian flag outside town hall until earlier this year when a ceasefire — since broken by Israel — began. That flag can be seen in many places at the packed pre-poll booth, on t-shirts, umbrellas and signs. The government's response to Israel's bombardment of Gaza is a key issue in Wills this election. ( ABC News: Nicholas White ) "They've been saying to us that they feel like Australia could have played a much stronger role on the international stage" she says of her discussions while campaigning. "They feel really betrayed and let down." Ms Ratnam says Australia's response to the war has led to people changing their vote to the Greens for the first time. Some in Wills are angry and frustrated with how the federal government has responded to Israel's actions. ( ABC News: Darryl Torpy ) "I've been hearing it daily, and we've been door-knocking now for months on end, and more and more people are telling me that it is a moral issue for them and they feel really let down by Labor." But while the response to the war is squarely part of the Greens' policy platform this election, the party's leader Adam Bandt says it won't be on their list of non-negotiables if there's a hung parliament. "Our only non-negotiable is that we won't support Peter Dutton," he says. "Whatever parliament it is, the Greens are going to keep pushing for our government to start taking action and put some pressure on this extremist Netanyahu government." Party heavyweights make an appearance When we speak with Mr Bandt, he's joined Samantha Ratnam at pre-polling in Brunswick, along with NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi, showing just how seriously the party are taking this contest. But they're not the only ones bringing their party heavyweights along to help them fight for this seat. Local Labor member Peter Khalil has been joined by Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Housing Minister Clare O'Neil as he fights to hold on to the electorate he's represented for nearly 10 years. "We don't take anything for granted," he says. Peter Khalil has held the seat of Wills for nearly a decade. ( ABC News: Darryl Torpy ) Aside from being the member for Wills, Mr Khalil is also the government's special envoy for social cohesion. The role involves him reporting regularly to the prime minister about issues regarding community division. At the Brunswick Masonic Centre pre-polling booth, he mostly gets a warm reception. "Everyone is voting early this year, so I'm kind of concerned about the sausage sizzle on Saturday and the fundraising for local primary schools. Candidates like Labor MP Peter Khalil have been at pre-polling booths speaking with locals before they vote. ( ABC News: Darryl Torpy ) "So hopefully people, even if they vote [early], can go down and buy a cake or a sausage for the local primary as well." He's also facing political pressure from the group Muslim Votes Matter, whose website's how to vote card for Wills puts Samantha Ratnam first, with Khalil placed sixth above the Liberals and One Nation. Peter Khalil says the government is doing everything it can to work towards peace. "Australia can't move the dial on its own, but we have worked within the international community to vote for a ceasefire multiple times, we've increased humanitarian aid to over 100 million [dollars]. Muslim Votes Matter is urging voters in Wills to preference the Greens first. ( Darryl Torpy/ABC News ) "We've actually doubled the funding to UNRWA, we're also one of only three countries that have provided visas to thousands of Palestinian refugees. "I've actually helped settle a number of Palestinian families into my electorate as well, and we've backed international humanitarian law. "People can make all sorts of accusations, but the most important thing is representing your community, standing by integrity and principle and doing what I can do, and I have done for the community over this very difficult period [where] the loss of life has been horrific." Mr Khalil has been the subject of multiple protests regarding Labor's response to the war, including one this week. Photo shows An electorate office sign doused in red paint. Peter Khalil's electorate office has been doused with an unknown substance, in what the government's special envoy for social cohesion has called an "escalation" of previous incidents. But things escalated last year when his office was sprayed outside with red paint and vandalised indoors with a substance the MP described as smelling like an "abattoir." He says while constituents are raising the issue with him, it is not their primary concern this election. "People raise this issue or issues around the Middle East conflict with me, but people also raise cost of living, they also raise issues around housing, they also raise issues [around] other social policy issues, support for refugees and asylum seekers, they raise issues around local school funding." He disagrees with the Greens' belief that constituents feel betrayed by Labor. Volunteers have been braving the rain to campaign for their candidates. ( ABC News: Nicholas White ) "[I've delivered a] Medicare urgent care clinic for the community that took a lot of work, that's something that we can deliver as part of being a government, and it makes a difference to people's lives. "I've worked really hard for the community … it's a wonderful community here in Melbourne, and every day is a privilege to work for them and serve the community."
