Election 2025: Tough time for Josh Burns as Jewish community vents at Labor

Labor MP Josh Burns has copped a heavy backlash from his Jewish constituents in a vital debate against his Liberal rival.

Labor MP Josh Burns, with candidates for Macnamara, speaks to Jewish constituents in a community forum in Melbourne on Wednesday. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

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Under threat Labor MP Josh Burns has copped a backlash from Jewish voters in his seat of Macnamara during a heated community forum.

The contest for the ultra-marginal seat with Victoria’s largest Jewish community kicked off on Wednesday night at the Temple Beth Israel synagogue in St Kilda, where Mr Burns faced off against Liberal candidate Benson Saulo.

More than 400 Jewish community members attended the ­debate between the two rivals, with Greens candidate Sonya Semmens being pulled out at the last minute.

The crowd cheered Mr Saulo as he was introduced, while Mr Burns received scattered ­applause.

In his opening remarks, Mr Burns, who has held the seat since 2019 and is expected to hold an open ticket on May 3, said the issue of anti-Semitism had been difficult for Labor.

“Inside the Labor Party, of course it’s been difficult. There’s been moments in time where I’ve spoken out against some of the policies of my party,” he said.

“I’m not here to sugar-coat it. I’m not here to describe anything that hasn’t been probably the most difficult two years of my personal and professional life. And each and every person in this room knows how difficult it has been for our community.”

Mr Burns. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

The first question put to the Jewish MP by moderator Rebecca Davis was whether he would preference the Greens last. He refused to answer directly, but said the minor party had posed the biggest threat in winning the seat.

He said he wasn’t worried about the Liberals. “If we do not win enough No.1 votes, then the Greens will obviously come into second place,” Mr Burns said.

“I really like Benson, He’s a nice guy, but he’s not the person I’m worried about winning this seat. The only people who can win this seat are the Greens.” Mr Saulo said the Liberals “can absolutely win”, prompting a cheer from the crowd.

The preference flows will make it difficult for the Liberals unless Mr Burns is given a special exemption from Labor to preference the Liberals above the Greens.

Mr Burns was heckled when he was asked how the past 18 months had affected him personally.

“There’s been moments where you feel like there’s this avalanche coming to the people that you grew up with, and you want to do more. But I also know that I’ve tried,” Mr Burns said.

Liberal candidate Benson Saulo. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Mr Saulo, who opened his remarks by sharing a story about his Indigenous heritage, said the Jewish community was seeking “tangible” action to address anti-Semitism.

Mr Saulo said as an Indigenous man he understood the importance of connection to country. Both candidates tried to leverage local anti-Greens sentiment, with Mr Burns positioning himself as the only realistic ­opponent to the minor party.

Mr Saulo said: “We have seen this growing scourge of anti-Semitism over the last 18 months.

“Ultimately, what the community here is really looking for is some clear, tangible action to ­address anti-Semitism, and clear sight of leadership, which I believe that only a Peter Dutton ­Coalition government can actually deliver.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim slammed the Greens Party for their consistent “bile” about Israel and the Jewish community.

Mr Wertheim said they had the right to not invite Ms Semmens to the event on Wednesday.

“Frankly, we had enough,” he told The Australian.

“We are not obliged to engage in the masochistic exercise of giving the Greens a platform to tell us more of the same. We have every right to invite or not invite any guest speakers we choose.

For the last 18 months we have heard the Greens spew their bile about Israel and the local Jewish community,” Mr Wertheim said.