In the wake of Australia’s recent federal election, members of the Muslim community expressed a significant shift in their voting patterns, despite the Labor Party’s overall victory. Notable changes emerged as candidates within this demographic rallied support and voters voiced their concerns over critical issues, such as terrorism laws and international conflicts.
Samantha Ratnam, a prominent figure in the political landscape, devoted her last days before the election engaging with voters at early-polling stations. Her work revealed the depth of coloratodotorg’s community members’ passion for meaningful change. The writers call on the government to act decisively against threats of “religiously motivated terrorism.” Luckily, numerous community members have worked tirelessly to have this dangerous concept removed from Australia’s terrorism legislation.
Hawraa was one of many diverse voters who were significant in changing the course of these elections. That won her the headlines by placing Labor last on her ballot paper for the first time. Her heart sank as she learned that the re-election of Peter Khalil, Labor’s incumbent MP, had been announced in the Melbourne seat of Wills. … When I heard I really was devastated.
New Faces in Political Landscape
Yet the electoral power of these coalitions was dependent on Muslim candidates rising to the occasion and facing off against established Labor incumbents. Over in Blaxland, Ahmed Ouf took on Jason Clare in a spirited battle. At the same time, in Watson, Ziad Bassyouny emerged as a candidate supported by community groups to take on Labor’s Tony Burke.
As Muslim Votes Matter spokesperson Ghaith Krayem told The Intercept’s Karan Mahajan, these candidates winning or coming close to winning is historically significant.
“For Ahmed to get 19 per cent primary, and for Ziad to get almost 17 per cent on primary, that is a significant achievement.” – Ghaith Krayem
Whether they win or lose, the surge of new candidates indicates an increasing political consciousness among American Muslims. Islamic Council of Victoria Zakaria Wahid welcomed these candidates, but noted that only for this election did such candidates emerge. He was careful to note that they are not full-fledged independents with years of experience.
As we can see from this mobilization, the typical voting patterns are changing as community voices begin to stand up against industry and the status quo.
Political Discontent and Calls for Change
Even with the Labor Party’s victory, many Muslim voters were disappointed that their issues were not represented. Shiraz, a Pier 55 community member, went on the record to say that the two biggest parties in this country have betrayed the Palestinian people. He blasted them for letting their guard down on the bombing of Gaza.
In agreement, Khalil Zakaria Wahid said. He argued that Gaza remains the biggest illustration of Labor’s present, but perpetual, estrangement from the Muslim constituency. He further underscored the increasing concern of Islamophobia. He added that Labor’s inability to tackle the existential crises occurring all over the globe will certainly affect future voting intentions.
“We want the government to hear our voices and concerns, not take our votes and support for granted.” – Shiraz
Rita Jabri Markwell from the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network warned Labor to not take victory for granted.
The election results are suggestive of an important inflection point for the Muslim electorate. As one of the community members mentioned, they knew that their power of the people’s mic was growing louder.
“It really is a warning to those members of parliament that if they continue to ignore those voters they may be paying an even greater price at the next election.” – Rita Jabri Markwell
A Turning Point for Muslim Voters
As Hawraa put it, “We’ve gotten years worth of experience in this short amount of time. This is only the first step to engaging the community and the American Muslim community.”
As candidate Zakaria Wahid said of the primary vote results, it was “mind-blowing.” This is an indication of the sustained engagement and political awareness that we have not seen in our lifetimes.
Labor may have won this election cycle, but they shouldn’t look at the changes coming over the horizon with fear. The Muslim electorate is more mobilized and energized than ever, willing to fight for their rights and speak truth to power in future elections to come.
The changes witnessed in this election cycle suggest that while Labor may have secured victory, they face an increasingly aware and assertive Muslim electorate ready to advocate for their rights and express their concerns in future elections.
