Latest news with #ZahidSafi
The Age
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
Victoria's hot seats LIVE updates: Cost of living in focus in final week of campaigning
Latest posts Latest posts 10.16am Liberal petrol policy not driving votes at this Endeavour Hills bowser In the few short weeks covering Bruce, I've spent hundreds of dollars on petrol (not to mention tolls) making the commute from the city each day. Public transport through the electorate is woefully inadequate, so the car remains the key way people get around. This might explain why Liberal candidate Zahid Safi has been leaning so heavily on the party's promise to cut the fuel excise in half for 12 months, reducing petrol prices by 25 cents a litre. Safi has made a habit of posting videos and photos from the bowser, most recently with deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley, claiming the policy will have 'immediate cost of living relief…saving the average household up to $1500 a year on fuel.' Blue corflutes are sprinkled around the streets of Bruce, promoting the policy too: 'Every litre, 25c cheaper by voting for the Liberals.' So, I decided to see if the promised fuel saving was having the desired impact on voters. I drove to a petrol station in Endeavour Hills early one weekday last week, arriving just before 8am hoping to catch the peak hour commuters, to inquire about the impact of the Liberal's key policy. Most said they hadn't heard of it, but in any event, said 25 cents per litre saved wouldn't influence their vote. Rachel Walter from Endeavour Hills said she had 'vaguely' heard of the Liberal party's petrol policy but when asked whether this would shift her vote, she said: 'Not for me.' 'I think there are bigger issues,' she said. 'The cost of everything has gone up. You can't even buy something for five bucks at the shop anymore. Feeding a family is really hard.' Walter said she hadn't decided who to vote for yet, but had typically voted Labor. 'I'll have to speak with my husband,' she said. A man, who did not want to be named, said the fuel policy had no impact on his vote. 'I voted Labor all my life, they used to be different from Liberals,' he said. 'But nowadays, it's all muddled.' He said the fuel tax was irrelevant because prices swing so wildly that 25 cents wouldn't make a major difference, and issues like crime, cost of living and Gaza were more important to him. 'I'm a peace activist,' he said. 'They both seem to be backing the wrong horse. Neither seem to be interested in peace.' He said there needed to be tougher penalties for crime, which he said was getting worse in the area. The man, who was from Somali background, was still an undecided voter but said he could not back Dutton. 'He made inflammatory comments in 2018,' he said. 'Everybody has got their bad eggs, but the community remembers those words. He's also a big ally of Israel. At the end of the day, one death is too much, but you have 60-70,000 people who have died. 'For me, Dutton is unvote-able,' he said. 'But Albanese is not much better.' Reza Hussain, who was having his first coffee and still waking up, said he had always voted Labor but 'might' consider switching to Liberal over the petrol cut, if it was combined with other cost-of-living measures. 'Even two cents or three cents makes a difference,' he says. 'I met Julian Hill personally, he's a good guy, speaks well.' Vanessa Johnson had a 'few seconds' to speak, while she filled up on her way to work as a teacher in Noble Park. Johnson was aware of the Liberal's fuel policy but said it wouldn't change her decision to vote Greens. 'As a 25-year-old, my HECS debt is through the roof, I work full-time as a teacher, whilst also doing my masters, whilst also working one day as a barista and I still can't afford shit,' she said, laughing. 'I know they can't get very far but I always vote Green.' She grew up in Berwick and said her friends vote Greens too, over frustration with the major party's failure to help her generation. 'I feel like no one is listening to the younger generation,' she said. 'Since I've been 18, we've gone round and round in circles and everything keeps going up and up and up.' 'I would like to start a future, finding a partner, kids and everything, but for me…I can't imagine how I can afford to have kids and give them a good life.' Tiernan White said 'obviously gas prices would be great lower' but he was unconvinced about the Liberal's other policies. The 25-year-old Crown Casino table operator drives from Doveton into the city for work each day, and while fuel is a big cost for him, the policy wouldn't change his vote. 'What I've seen, Peter Dutton does not seem like the correct person to be at the front of Australia at the moment,' he said. He cited the cost of living and medicine costs being key issues for him. White was unconvinced Dutton has a 'grasp' on the housing crisis, citing the opposition leader's vast personal property portfolio, and said he was dismayed by his own recent efforts to buy a house. Siraj Faleer, who was also in a rush while filling up, said he was voting Labor and the Liberal's fuel policy wouldn't change his mind. He said Peter Dutton was a 'warrior-type person'. 'You can't depend on him,' he said. Faleer said Safi was a personal friend. 'I know him because my daughter goes to the same class,' he said. 'But I can't vote for him, that's politics.' Harvey Norman employee and law student Blaise D'Sylva also hadn't heard of the policy but it might impact his vote. 'If they were bringing down other costs, definitely,' he said. 'Everything's so expensive.' Historically he said he'd followed his parents voting Labor, but was considering voting Liberal this time around – mainly due to frustration with former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews' handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Another man, who didn't want to be named, said he was on his way to vote early and the petrol policy had no bearing on his vote. He wanted to avoid both major parties, and planned to vote for Fatima Payman's Australia Voice party in the Senate and follow the Muslim Votes Matter recommendation in the house. 'I'm Muslim and so vote for Muslim Votes Matters, they have a list,' he said before driving off. 10.16am Five sleeps to go… the countdown is on We have arrived. We are in the final week of the 2025 federal election campaign. With five sleeps to go until election day, our senior reporters are spending as much time as possible on the ground in our four key electorates - Wills, Goldstein, Kooyong and Bruce - for more pre-polling fun and candidates' final pitches. There are some last-minute appearances by party leaders expected in the seats too, including Liberal leader Peter Dutton in teal-held Kooyong and Goldstein.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victoria's hot seats LIVE updates: Cost of living in focus in final week of campaigning
Latest posts Latest posts 10.16am Liberal petrol policy not driving votes at this Endeavour Hills bowser In the few short weeks covering Bruce, I've spent hundreds of dollars on petrol (not to mention tolls) making the commute from the city each day. Public transport through the electorate is woefully inadequate, so the car remains the key way people get around. This might explain why Liberal candidate Zahid Safi has been leaning so heavily on the party's promise to cut the fuel excise in half for 12 months, reducing petrol prices by 25 cents a litre. Safi has made a habit of posting videos and photos from the bowser, most recently with deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley, claiming the policy will have 'immediate cost of living relief…saving the average household up to $1500 a year on fuel.' Blue corflutes are sprinkled around the streets of Bruce, promoting the policy too: 'Every litre, 25c cheaper by voting for the Liberals.' So, I decided to see if the promised fuel saving was having the desired impact on voters. I drove to a petrol station in Endeavour Hills early one weekday last week, arriving just before 8am hoping to catch the peak hour commuters, to inquire about the impact of the Liberal's key policy. Most said they hadn't heard of it, but in any event, said 25 cents per litre saved wouldn't influence their vote. Rachel Walter from Endeavour Hills said she had 'vaguely' heard of the Liberal party's petrol policy but when asked whether this would shift her vote, she said: 'Not for me.' 'I think there are bigger issues,' she said. 'The cost of everything has gone up. You can't even buy something for five bucks at the shop anymore. Feeding a family is really hard.' Walter said she hadn't decided who to vote for yet, but had typically voted Labor. 'I'll have to speak with my husband,' she said. A man, who did not want to be named, said the fuel policy had no impact on his vote. 'I voted Labor all my life, they used to be different from Liberals,' he said. 'But nowadays, it's all muddled.' He said the fuel tax was irrelevant because prices swing so wildly that 25 cents wouldn't make a major difference, and issues like crime, cost of living and Gaza were more important to him. 'I'm a peace activist,' he said. 'They both seem to be backing the wrong horse. Neither seem to be interested in peace.' He said there needed to be tougher penalties for crime, which he said was getting worse in the area. The man, who was from Somali background, was still an undecided voter but said he could not back Dutton. 'He made inflammatory comments in 2018,' he said. 'Everybody has got their bad eggs, but the community remembers those words. He's also a big ally of Israel. At the end of the day, one death is too much, but you have 60-70,000 people who have died. 'For me, Dutton is unvote-able,' he said. 'But Albanese is not much better.' Reza Hussain, who was having his first coffee and still waking up, said he had always voted Labor but 'might' consider switching to Liberal over the petrol cut, if it was combined with other cost-of-living measures. 'Even two cents or three cents makes a difference,' he says. 'I met Julian Hill personally, he's a good guy, speaks well.' Vanessa Johnson had a 'few seconds' to speak, while she filled up on her way to work as a teacher in Noble Park. Johnson was aware of the Liberal's fuel policy but said it wouldn't change her decision to vote Greens. 'As a 25-year-old, my HECS debt is through the roof, I work full-time as a teacher, whilst also doing my masters, whilst also working one day as a barista and I still can't afford shit,' she said, laughing. 'I know they can't get very far but I always vote Green.' She grew up in Berwick and said her friends vote Greens too, over frustration with the major party's failure to help her generation. 'I feel like no one is listening to the younger generation,' she said. 'Since I've been 18, we've gone round and round in circles and everything keeps going up and up and up.' 'I would like to start a future, finding a partner, kids and everything, but for me…I can't imagine how I can afford to have kids and give them a good life.' Tiernan White said 'obviously gas prices would be great lower' but he was unconvinced about the Liberal's other policies. The 25-year-old Crown Casino table operator drives from Doveton into the city for work each day, and while fuel is a big cost for him, the policy wouldn't change his vote. 'What I've seen, Peter Dutton does not seem like the correct person to be at the front of Australia at the moment,' he said. He cited the cost of living and medicine costs being key issues for him. White was unconvinced Dutton has a 'grasp' on the housing crisis, citing the opposition leader's vast personal property portfolio, and said he was dismayed by his own recent efforts to buy a house. Siraj Faleer, who was also in a rush while filling up, said he was voting Labor and the Liberal's fuel policy wouldn't change his mind. He said Peter Dutton was a 'warrior-type person'. 'You can't depend on him,' he said. Faleer said Safi was a personal friend. 'I know him because my daughter goes to the same class,' he said. 'But I can't vote for him, that's politics.' Harvey Norman employee and law student Blaise D'Sylva also hadn't heard of the policy but it might impact his vote. 'If they were bringing down other costs, definitely,' he said. 'Everything's so expensive.' Historically he said he'd followed his parents voting Labor, but was considering voting Liberal this time around – mainly due to frustration with former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews' handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Another man, who didn't want to be named, said he was on his way to vote early and the petrol policy had no bearing on his vote. He wanted to avoid both major parties, and planned to vote for Fatima Payman's Australia Voice party in the Senate and follow the Muslim Votes Matter recommendation in the house. 'I'm Muslim and so vote for Muslim Votes Matters, they have a list,' he said before driving off. 10.16am Five sleeps to go… the countdown is on We have arrived. We are in the final week of the 2025 federal election campaign. With five sleeps to go until election day, our senior reporters are spending as much time as possible on the ground in our four key electorates - Wills, Goldstein, Kooyong and Bruce - for more pre-polling fun and candidates' final pitches. There are some last-minute appearances by party leaders expected in the seats too, including Liberal leader Peter Dutton in teal-held Kooyong and Goldstein.
The Guardian
11-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Liberal candidate co-authored inquiry submission suggesting Hazaras not persecuted for ethnicity in Afghanistan
The Liberal candidate for Bruce co-authored a parliamentary submission suggesting the Hazara community in Afghanistan was not persecuted on the basis of its ethnicity, contradicting the Australian government and drawing rebuke from international human rights groups. Zahid Safi co-authored a submission to a 2021 parliamentary inquiry into Australia's involvement in the Afghanistan war, which incorrectly cited a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report to allege Hazara 'warlords' had 'cut the breasts of women' and watched 'live delivery of pregnant women' during the early 1990s. The 2005 HRW report does not mention these acts. The allegations led members of the Hazara community, which has a significant presence in the electorate of Bruce, to lodge their own dissenting submissions to the inquiry, alleging the claims relied on 'racist tropes' and sought to erase the 'well-documented persecution of an entire ethnic group'. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Safi did not directly comment on those allegations when contacted by Guardian Australia, instead stating he was 'a staunch advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all individuals worldwide'. 'As someone who fled the country because of war, I know everyone under the Taliban suffered, and my advocacy for human rights is shaped by those experiences,' Safi said. The Senate submission co-authored by Safi said, in reference to conflict in Afghanistan, 'that victims of war are not based on ethnicity'. 'The victims of war are targeted based on ideology,' the joint submission said. 'This means, whoever opposes the Taliban and their ideology, is perceived as the Taliban's enemy. Therefore, their perceived animosity is not based on ethnic division.' A 2022 briefing paper on Afghanistan, prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, states the Hazara community are an ethnic group that represents an estimated 10-20% of the country's population. It states the Hazara face 'a high risk of harassment and violence (…) on the basis of their ethnicity and sectarian affiliation'. The department notes the Hazara community has been historically persecuted, noting it was subjected to 'the worst single recorded massacre in the country's recent history' in August 1998, when the Taliban, a predominantly Pashtun organisation, 'massacred at least 2,000 Hazaras'. The submission co-authored by Safi also expressed frustration that other ethnic groups from Afghanistan had allegedly been 'sidelined' by the Australian government and media, due to an alleged prioritisation of the Hazara community. 'Pashtuns have had the most casualties compared to others and this needs to be acknowledged by the Australian government as the 20 years' war existed mostly in the Pashtun provinces,' the submission stated. Thousands of Hazaras who fled Afghanistan after persecution from the Taliban in the 1990s settled in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, within the federal electorate of Bruce. The electorate is also home to other Afghan ethnic groups. Safi said: 'A full and fair reading of my submission makes clear that I advocated for every single living individual at risk from the national atrocity and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan under the Taliban.' Guardian Australia has spoken to other co-authors of the report who stand by its claims. Bruce is held by the incumbent Labor MP, Julian Hill. A margin of 6.6% at the 2022 election has been reduced to 5.3% after a redistribution. . Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The submission has been criticised by HRW's Afghanistan researcher, Fereshta Abbasi, who accused the authors of misrepresenting a report by the organisation to imply brutal violence in Kabul between 1992 and 1995 was conducted exclusively by Hazaras. 'Among these atrocities were those carried out by ethnically Pashtun militia forces and ethnically Hazara militia forces against civilians of these respective ethnic groups, in tit-for-tat kidnappings, rapes and killings,' Abbasi said. 'Attributing them exclusively towards Hazaras is misleading. It is our finding that these attacks were in fact based on ethnicity – in that the victims were targeted because of their ethnicity.' A dissenting submission made by members of the Hazara community, who asked for the Senate to withhold their names, said the submission co-authored by Safi had 'the effect of amplifying racist tropes'. 'It highlights the actions of a few actors in a past civil war, drawing attention to ethnicity to imply the guilt of entire ethnic groups, or to imply that people who belong to ethnic groups other than Pashtun are violent in nature,' the dissenting submission said. A separate dissenting report by two academics specialising in Afghanistan at La Trobe University and Deakin University, along with solicitors and PhD candidates, accused the submission of containing 'a series of factually incorrect statements and racist prejudices'. 'Instead of acknowledging the historical and current persecution of the Hazaras, and the significant risks faced by Hazaras in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime; the authors deliberately blame the Hazaras for the general violence and human rights abuses that were perpetrated during several phases of the war in Afghanistan,' the academics and lawyers said.
