Jewish Labor MP Mike Freelander reveals why he is backing the Greens

Jewish Labor MP Dr Mike Freelander has been forced to defend his decision to preference the Greens second after the Jewish community pleaded with both major parties to put the minor party last over its position on the Gaza war.

Another Jewish Labor MP has been forced to defend his decision to preference the Greens second after the Jewish community pleaded with both major parties to put the minor party last over its position on the Gaza war.

Dr Mike Freelander, who is of Jewish heritage, is urging voters to put the Greens candidate for his electorate of Macarthur second.

It comes after fellow Jewish Labor backbencher Josh Burns chose to run an open ballot in his electorate of Macnamara and Australia’s most senior Jewish politician, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, chose to preference the Greens second.

Labor has defied calls from the Jewish community to put the Greens last, putting the minor party second in a number of seats in Western Sydney where the government is at risk of losing votes to the minor party due to strong pro-Palestine sentiment in the region.

Labor Ministers in McMahon, Chifley, Greenway and Watson have all preferenced the Greens second.

Dr Mike Freelander said he made the decision to preference the Greens because he knows the candidate. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Dr Freelander — who recently spoke out on rising antisemitism in Australia saying it made him feel numb — said he made the decision because he personally knew the Greens candidate.

Members of the Jewish community have blamed the Greens for contributing to growing antisemitism — an allegation the Greens have denied.

“I’ve known the Greens candidate for Macarthur for a number of years through my role as a pediatrician and I respect her willingness to run,” he told Newscorp.

“Given there are more conservative and right wing parties running, such as One Nation, I cannot preference them.

“Further, I have been fortunate to have a good working relationship with a number of councillors including those from the Greens, at a local level and that’s where my focus is, in getting better outcomes for the people of Macarthur.”

Jewish Liberal Julian Leeser said Labor was preferencing the “party of antisemitism”.

“In November 2023 I called for all the major political parties to put the Greens last on account of their antisemitism. The Coalition is putting the Greens last across Australia. I don’t understand why Mr Albanese continues to preference the party of antisemitism.”

Originally published as Jewish Labor MP Mike Freelander reveals why he is backing the Greens