Dr Ziad Basyouny to launch independent Watson campaign against Tony Burke

Southwest Sydney-based doctor Ziad Basyouny will run in Watson, the first emergence of an independent candidate in Labor’s heartlands amid the fallout from Gaza.

Based in southwest Sydney, Ziad Basyouny will launch his independent campaign in Watson on Tuesday.

A popular doctor from the southwest Sydney Muslim community will take on Tony Burke in the minister’s Watson electorate, the first emergence of an independent candidate running in Labor’s heartlands, prompted by the community’s unhappiness with the government’s Gaza stance.

Dr Ziad Basyouny will launch his independent campaign on Tuesday in Greenacre, in the seat of Watson, as the backlash against the ALP in southwest Sydney politically escalated.

The Australian revealed in July how Dr Basyouny – described by community sources as “popular, articulate and intelligent” – had been approached to run as an independent against Mr Burke and was “receptive” to the idea.

On Monday, a press alert from Dr Basyouny’s campaign scheduled a conference launching an independent candidacy, which Muslim community and Canberra sources have since confirmed will be the local community figure and doctor.

Although Dr Basyouny is from the southwest Sydney Muslim community The Australian understands that his campaign and candidacy is independent, not formally aligned or part of either The Muslim Vote or Muslim Votes Matters campaigns.

While that may be true, both campaigns are likely to endorse him, and The Australian understands that leaders from The Muslim Vote approached Dr Basyouny in July gauging his willingness to run as an independent, who they would then endorse.

He has been critical on social media of Labor’s handling of the war and is likely to campaign heavily on the government’s record on Israel-Palestine, which large segments of the Sydney Muslim community have been unhappy with.

Dr Basyouny previously ran practices in Greenacre and Lakemba, and, in 2017, offered free psychological support to students affected by the possible closure of Malek Fahd Islamic School.

He also has owned practices in regional NSW and, in 2021, helped lead Covid vaccination drives across his practices during the pandemic.

Pictured on the left, Dr Ziad Basyouny stands outside the Malek Fahd Islamic School in Greenacre in 2017.

Muslim Votes Matter has said its campaign will focus on supporting and promoting candidates strong on Palestine, and won’t be formally or informally running candidates, while The Muslim Vote has long expressed its determination to quasi-run independents.

The success of both campaigns, like that seen in July’s British election, relies heavily on independents running largely on a pro-Palestine platform and Dr Basyouny’s emergence gives both movements a non-party candidate to endorse.

It comes after an exclusive Newspoll showed a drop in Labor’s primary vote and the ALP and Coalition level on 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis.

Dr Basyouny didn’t respond to The Australian on Monday and his campaign team wouldn’t confirm his candidacy, pointing instead to Tuesday’s press conference.

The Australian has also reported on the “counter movement” to both campaigns, one spearheaded by prominent Lebanese Muslim community leader Dr Jamal Rifi, who criticised single-issue political movements and said it was preferable to have a voice within the corridors of power.

He has launched an informal “Friends of Tony Burke” campaign, promising to hold hundreds of conversations across the area to help re-elect the minister.

ALP-held Watson and neighbouring Blaxland, held by Education Minister Jason Clare, have been electorally targeted by both movements and the emergence of Dr Basyouny will give Labor headaches.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Australian understands that in Blaxland barrister Mahmud Hawila has long been courted by The Muslim Vote campaign to run as an independent in Mr Clare’s seat, which he was mulling over.

On social-media last week, Mr Hawila said his “role in this movement will soon take on a new exciting form” and to watch this space.

The Muslim Vote campaign held a Saturday doorknocking session and tutorial, with guest speakers advising on how best to canvass for the candidate that movement will endorse.

Mr Burke’s recent elevation to home affairs minister was met warmly by the area’s formal Islamic and Muslim bodies, with The Australian reporting how sentiment had shifted toward a belief the community would be better served by protecting established ties with the government and voices within it.

The Australian previously reported that tensions existed within The Muslim Vote on strategy and with parts of the community, with concerns with its robust approach toward Mr Burke and Mr Clare.

Dr Basyouny will address and take questions from the media on Tuesday.