Labor MP hits out at claim by Muslim Vote

Labor’s Peter Khalil has become the first MP to push back against claims made by a pro-Palestinian political movement aiming to unseat Labor politicians, declaring the group known as The Muslim Vote is misleading the public about the government’s stance on the Gaza war.

The Melbourne MP is fighting to hold on to his inner-northern seat of Wills after a redistribution proposal five weeks ago that favours the Greens, who are reaching out to the Muslims who make up 10 per cent of the electorate’s voters.

The Muslim Votes network plans to campaign against Labor MPs they regard as ‘‘weak on Palestine’’ in several seats – including Wills – and met Senator Fatima Payman last month before she crossed the floor to vote with the Greens on immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Khalil yesterday accused the group’s leaders of peddling inaccuracies and failing to mention ‘‘countless’’ public statements by Labor such as breaking with the US to back a ceasefire vote at the UN, calling for unimpeded aid, demanding Israel respect humanitarian law and affirming Australia’s role in a peace process leading to a Palestinian state.

‘‘I have spoken on Palestinian self-determination and statehood multiple times in Parliament. I spoke most recently in parliament on July 10, 2024 in strong support of a Palestinian state and self-determination. None of this was accurately acknowledged on the scorecards or claims on [Muslim Votes Matter / the Muslim Vote],’’ Khalil said in a statement.

‘‘In addition they do not represent the countless on-the-record statements on radio, TV, print media and social media.’’

Khalil has expressed the private frustration of target MPs including senior ministers, who believe the group is fuelling misinformation and distrust, but are unwilling to criticise the group openly.

The Muslim Vote website – modelled on a UK version that helped elect five independent MPs last week on the Gaza issue – lists Labor MPs and rates the strength of their support for the Palestinian cause.

Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke, whose western Sydney seat of Watson is 24 per cent Muslim, is listed as being ‘‘weak’’ on Palestine. This is despite Burke coming out early and consistently to condemn Israel’s military action, while supporting the right of councils to fly Palestinian flags.

The prospect of well-resourced independents running on the Gaza issue in seats such as Watson, Blaxland, Chifley in NSW and Wills and Calwell in Victoria has prompted talks among Labor MPs and strategists about the prospect of a ‘‘tealstyle’’ independent victory or preferences flows to Liberals or Greens.

Organisers from The Muslim Votes were contacted for comment.

Anti-Israel protesters will defy calls tomorrow to stop hindering access to MPs’ offices by setting up an indefinite picket outside Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office. In a statement, demonstrators said Wong had ‘‘blamed Palestinians for their own deaths’’ and ‘‘continued to advocate for a two-state solution’’, which protesters oppose.

The group’s website lists Habibah Jaghoori as an organiser of the protest. The Age reported in May that she had been sacked from Adelaide University’s student newspaper for repeatedly praising Hamas and its ‘‘magnificent’’ October 7 attacks, which killed 1200 people.