Australian Leaders Express Worries About Voting Based on Religious Affiliation

July 5, 2024 TruthUSA

As the defection of Muslim Senator Fatima Payman ignites a debate about parties representing different faiths, the prime minister cautions against it.

Senator Fatima Payman’s resignation from the Labor Party has sparked a discussion about the ability of political parties to represent individuals of various faiths, prompting both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to weigh in on the matter with similar views but differing expressions.

Mr. Albanese stressed the inclusivity of Labor towards all faiths, warning that any shift towards faith-based politics could harm national unity.

“My party includes individuals who are Catholic, Uniting Church members, Muslims, Jews—this is how we practice politics in Australia, fostering cohesion,” the prime minister shared with reporters.

“I do not believe, nor desire, for Australia to embrace the concept of faith-based political parties as it would undermine social harmony.”

In anticipation of a potential minority government led by Mr. Albanese in the future, Mr. Dutton also rejected faith-based politics, labeling such a situation as a “disaster” due to the inclusion of “Greens, the Green-Teals … and Muslim candidates from Western Sydney.”

This remark alludes to The Muslim Vote group planning to field candidates in Labor strongholds in western Sydney.

The group has met with Senator Payman, who denies she has any intention of joining it.

However, Mr. Dutton’s remarks have stirred controversy within the Muslim community, with Australian cricket player Usman Khawaja labeling them as “an absolute disgrace” and accusing him of “fueling Islamophobia” on X.

The opposition leader stood firm, suggesting that a Parliament with such a diverse array of candidates could have negative economic implications.

“As a senator for NSW, your primary responsibility is to serve the residents of NSW,” he explained on the Today Show on July 5, highlighting that groups like The Muslim Vote are more focused on international matters.

Senator Payman, who breached Labor’s unity rule by voting against the party on an issue concerning Palestine, eventually left the party to become an independent, insisting that her religious beliefs did not motivate her actions but rather a concern for human rights.

“Religion is personal to me; it guides my ethical compass, and I hold myself to a higher standard because of it,” she stated.

“However, I do not impose my beliefs on others, nor do I expect them to make decisions the way I do.”

Vulnerable Labor Seats to be Targeted

The Muslim Vote has announced its intention to target three Labor-held seats in the upcoming election: Watson, Blaxland, and Werriwa. These seats are all represented by prominent Labor MPs.

Tony Burke has represented Watson since 2004 and holds key ministerial positions within the government.

Jason Clare, the Education Minister, has served as the MP for Blaxland since 2007. Anne Stanley, the government whip, has been the MP for Werriwa since 2016.

Leader of the House Tony Burke reacts during question time at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 28, 2022. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

With significant Muslim populations in Watson, Blaxland, and Werriwa, the seats are held by Labor with varying margins. Watson has a 27.2 percent Muslim population, Blaxland has 35.0 percent, and Werriwa has 17.2 percent.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 29 out of the 151 federal electorates have a population with five percent or more of individuals practicing Islam, with the majority of these seats under Labor’s representation.

Notably, four seats with substantial Muslim communities are considered marginal, including Werriwa, Parramatta, Fowler (lost by Labor in the 2022 election), and the Liberal-held Banks.

During the last election, six of the 10 largest swings against Labor occurred in seats with significant Muslim populations.

The Muslim Vote group has indicated a willingness to support lower house candidates in other states like Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and the ACT, despite smaller Muslim communities in those regions.

The emergence of this group follows statements made by Wesam Charkawi, a pro-Palestine activist and researcher at Western Sydney University, who, in March, voiced intentions to challenge incumbent politicians in Parramatta over their handling of international issues like the situation in Gaza.

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