Activist Group Plans to Target Muslim Voters in Labor Party Strongholds

Two activist groups say they will try to coax the country’s 800,000 strong Muslim community to move their vote away from Labor.

A person puts their vote into a ballot box at a polling centre at St Kilda Primary school in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 14, 2023. A referendum for Australians to decide on an indigenous voice to parliament was held on Oct. 14, 2023 and compelled all Australians to vote by law. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

A Muslim group is pushing to sway results at the next Australian federal election, with a call for candidates in Muslim-populated parts of the country.

The movement appears to be linked to Australia’s involvement in the Middle East in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, with sitting politicians being judged on their position, or lack of, on the conflict.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils issued their call on July 1 offering support to any potential candidates.

“Eight hundred thousand Muslims and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils is ready to support you today,” the group posted to Facebook.

“The Muslim Vote” group, which uses the same bright pink campaign colour as groups of the same name in the United States and UK, says it has the power to influence government, and force Labor into a minority at the next election.

The group says it plans to target seats with high concentrations of Muslim voters (many in Sydney and Melbourne).

“Historically reliant on the support of these key demographics, Labor now finds itself in unknown territory due to its position on Gaza ...” Muslim Vote said in a statement online.

Labor MPs Ranked on Middle East Views

The website outlines the position of sitting Labor politicians and their position on Palestine and Israel.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is ranked as “weak on Palestine,” while Education Minister Jason Clare—whose electorate Blaxland is 31.7 percent Muslim, the highest in the country—was deemed to be “mostly silent on Palestine.”

Workplace Minister Tony Burke, the member for Watson (25.1 percent Muslim voters), was deemed to have expressed “strong solidarity with Israel,” and offered “weak support for Palestine.”

On X, the activist group has also pledged support for estranged Labor Senator Fatima Payman, who was suspended from Labor after crossing the floor—against her own party—to support the Green’s call for Palestine to be recognised as its own state. The senator quit the Labor Party on July 4.