The Source: Labor’s Middle East tensions play out in Dunkley by-election

Fallout from the Israel-Hamas war is being felt 13,000km away in the Dunkley by-election, as Labor’s left faction reportedly downs tools for the campaign.

Anthony Albanese at Jodie Belyea's Dunkley by-election campaign launch. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Have faultlines of ALP discord struck the Dunkley by-election campaign?

It’s always difficult for a government to retain a by-election seat. But the degree of difficulty compounds when some supporters of your own party refuse to help the campaign.

The Source has been told that elements of the Socialist Left faction are less than enthused about support for the ALP candidate, Jodie Belyea, because of a perceived bias towards Israel from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

It’s said that Socialist Left figures expected a more “empathetic” approach to Palestinian concerns.

It’s suggested that some younger Socialist Left members have refused to help campaigning, and that those doorknocking and doing other work on the ground are from the party’s right.

Some younger Socialist Left members are said to be less than enthused about Jodie Belyea’s campaign. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The March 2 by-election, prompted by the death of the ALP’s Peta Murphy, is considered a must win for both major parties.

Naturally, the first day of by-election early voting on Monday began with polling booth argy bargy.

A man boasting a Robo Debt sandwich board clashed with party volunteers, prompting an Australian Electoral Commission pep talk about “appropriate behaviour”.

The Libertarian Party candidate, meanwhile, is disappointed to be left out of an ABC debate between the candidates on Wednesday.

Said Chrysten Abraham: “I am personally disappointed that the taxpayer funded ABC would be selective on who they promote and hope this has no correlation to the Libertarian policy to defund the ABC.”

Heard something? Let us know [e-mail]