Election 2016: Liberal candidate Ned Mannoun accused of forcing a ‘complete Islamisation’ of Liverpool

LIBERAL Werriwa candidate Ned Mannoun is accused of forcing “a complete Islamisation” of Liverpool one halal sausage at a time by a long-time council enemy.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun at pre-polling ahead of the federal election. Picture: Craig Greenhill

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LIBERAL Werriwa candidate Ned Mannoun is accused of forcing “a complete Islamisation” of Liverpool one halal sausage at a time by a long-time council enemy.

Liberal Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski accused Mr Mannoun of banning pork sausages at council functions and said constituents had contacted him worried Mr Mannoun will attempt to legislate halal food if he enters parliament.

Among the claims made by Mr Ristevski is that Mr Mannoun is “anti-Christian”.

“I believe he is racist against Christian beliefs,” Mr Ristevski said. Central to Mr Ristevski’s claims is an alleged ban on pork at council events.

Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski has accused fellow Liberal and federal candidate for Werriwa Ned Mannoun of forcing a ‘complete Islamisation’ of Liverpool.

“What else would you call this other than complete Islamisation,” Mr Ristevski said.

“People are calling me and saying this is the Islamisation of our city. I am concerned, and constituents are concerned, that if he is elected he will put up a private members bill to ban pork ... we are supposed to live in harmony, not segregation.”

Mr Mannoun said the claims were “ridiculous”.

“I support multiculturalism and I am proud of my record of working with all faiths in our community,” he said.

He pointed to a 2015 mayoral minute of Liverpool council where he reversed the “operational” decision not to serve pork at a multi-faith event.

In the minute, council voted to condemn “racist and bigoted remarks made publicly against the Liverpool Council and its councillors”.

Mr Mannoun is running for the seat of Werriwa, which has been vacated by retiring Labor MP Laurie Ferguson.

It is a marginal Labor seat on 6.5 per cent, and has only ever been held by the ALP.