Election 2025: Muslim Vote and Greens stage rally against two major parties

A few hundred people attended a rally endorsed by grassroots pro-Palestinian groups, Gaza-centric lobby groups the Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter, and the Greens.

Wesam Charkawi speaks at Paul Keating Park in Bankstown. Picture: Damian Shaw/NewsWire

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Muslim Vote-endorsed independents and the Greens have shared a stage in western Sydney to urge the public to “break the two-party system” in long-held ALP heartlands on account of Gaza.

A crowd of 200-300 people attended an “anti-racism rally” against “anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate” endorsed by grassroots pro-Palestinian groups, lobby groups the Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter, and the NSW Greens on Sunday.

The protesters made a 1km loop around Bankstown’s city centre, stopping in front of Blaxland MP Jason Clare’s electorate office and chanting “shame, shame” to Mr Clare and Watson MP Tony Burke. With the redistribution, localities of Bankstown have moved to Watson.

Signs handed out to the group by organisers read: “Give greens and independents the balance of power to reduce racism.”

Protesters hold placards and banners during an ‘anti-racism rally’ in western Sydney. Picture: AFP

Local doctor Ziad Basyouny, who hopes to topple Mr Burke in Watson, told the crowd: “If you vote the same way you voted last time, you’re part of the problem. You’re thanking them for ignoring this racism issue.”

Although not a registered party, the Muslim Vote campaign played a key role establishing the independent campaigns of Dr Basyouny and Ahmed Ouf in Watson and Blaxland respectively, whose operations it is helping to co-ordinate.

“Do not vote for the two parties. Look for someone you can talk to, you can meet.”

Blaxland and Watson are both held with about a 15 per cent margin. Muslim voters make up 35 per cent and 27 per cent of the community respectively in the two seats.

Mr Basyouny told The Australian that Blaxland was “no longer a safe (Labor) seat”. “It’s a marginal seat. Now, the question is, am I able to change the margin or not? I think I will be.

“People don’t know who they are represented by.

“The people don’t know Tony Burke in the seat where he’s been for a long time.

“I’ve been working in the area for 20 years … where I have my clinic, I probably know everyone from the age of zero to 70. People are angry about the cost of living, the hospital that has not been built, GP clinics that are turning into apartment buildings, it’s just the whole movement that’s happened … Gaza only augmented the sense of injustice the people here are feeling.”

People march in the streets of Bankstown. Picture: Damian Shaw/NewsWire

Prominent Sydney sheik and Muslim Vote convener Wesam Charkawi told the crowd their mobilisation “was absolutely necessary”. “The Australian government only offers weak lip service …” he said. “You’ve offered no meaningful action and nothing that can actually affect the people who have been oppressed and who have been maimed and who have been occupied for the last 16 months in Gaza.”

Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi said Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese “will try and entice your vote” but not to let them. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties expecting the same result. We have to stop supporting the politicians who have been supporting a genocide. And it is time for us to draw a line in the sand as far as racism is concerned.”