Media Release: Wills Candidates and Community Leaders Forum

13 April 2025 – for immediate release

At 6.30pm on Tuesday 15 April, Free Palestine Melbourne and Muslim Votes Matter are hosting a joint Justice at the Ballot Box forum of political candidates and community leaders at Schoolhouse Studios in Coburg.

“So far, Greens candidate Samantha Ratnam, Socialist Alliance candidate Sue Bolton and Imam Alaa Elzokm OAM of the Elsedeaq Heidelberg Mosque have indicated that they will be attending,” said Fernanda Trecenti of Free Palestine Melbourne. “Peter Khalil, the Labor MP for Wills, has yet to reply to his invitation.”

Organisers insist that the forum will go ahead regardless of Mr Khalil’s attendance.

“Last year we cancelled a similar forum after Mr Khalil snubbed our invitation. Yet Wills is one of the most progressive and pro-Palestinian electorates in the country. Voters are angry and upset, not only over the violence in Palestine, but the Australian government’s apparent complicity in Israel’s crimes. If Mr Khalil can’t be bothered explaining his position on Palestine, then the people of Wills have the right to hear from those who can,” said Ms Trecenti.

Apart from the politicians, attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of Imam Alaa Elzokm OAM, who in 2020 was awarded the Premier’s Award for Community Harmony as part of the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence.

“It is important for Muslim voters to hear from an authority like Imam Alaa,” said Mohammed Yousef of Muslim Votes Matter. “Right wing groups like Advance Australia and the Australian Christian Lobby have been letterboxing Wills voters with anti-Greens literature regarding their positions on LGBT, drugs and other issues. We are confident that Imam Alaa will clarify what issues Muslims should consider when voting in a time of genocide.”

The forum is open to anyone who supports Palestinian liberation.

“This is how democracy is supposed to work. People disengage from the political process when politicians fail to represent or engage with them. We are empowering the electorate to understand where their candidates stand on the question of Palestine,” said Mr Yousef.

For more information contact: info[@]fpmelbourne[dot]org