‘Friends of Tony Burke’ campaign to take on The Muslim Vote in Labor-held southwest Sydney

A ‘Friends of Tony Burke’ campaign by Islamic community leaders is hoping to neuter The Muslim Vote as internal divisions and an ‘information black hole’ derailed the fledgling ‘dump Labor’ movement.

The informal coalition will campaign for both Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, left, and Education Minister Jason Clare in the pair’s southwest Sydney electorates. Picture: Martin Ollman

A “Friends of Tony Burke” campaign led by some of southwest Sydney’s most prominent Islamic community leaders is hoping to politically neuter the Muslim Vote bloc in the minister’s Watson electorate, promising a doorknocking “cascade” of conver­sations to re-elect the Labor member at the next election.

It comes amid an “information blockage” between the Muslim Vote and community leaders and entrenched internal divisions on strategy as supporters withheld ­financial backing after becoming concerned with its direction, sources said.

The informal Friends of Tony campaign is spearheaded by Lebanese Muslim community leader Dr Jamal Rifi, who has started canvassing support for the new Home Affairs and Immigration Minister in his electorate.

“It is to give Mr Burke peace of mind so he can concentrate on (his) portfolios without having to worry about his electoral chances,” Dr Rifi said, particularly given the roles’ importance as conditions worsened in Lebanon.

Dr Rifi said that what started as a group of Muslim elders had enlisted the support of Lebanese and Palestinian Christians, and was open to anyone. He hoped that by the time of the election campaign “hundreds” of volunteers would be involved.

“Some people suggested it be called the ‘Muslim Friends of Tony Burke’, but we’ve received support (from across faiths and ethnicities) and decided on the ‘friends of’,” he said, saying it would first ensure the re-election of Labor Canterbury-Bankstown mayor Bilal El-Hayek, a strong pro-Palestine voice but who Labor sources said could be indirectly affected by the Muslim Vote campaign.

“The Muslim Vote (leaders) must not live in southwest Sydney if they think Tony Burke and (Education Minister) Jason Clare are weak voices on Palestine. These men are anything but weak.”

Dr Rifi accused the Muslim Vote – which is spearheaded by Sheik Wesam Charkawi – of spreading disinformation and taking advantage of emotions about Gaza, adding his coalition wouldn’t target social media.

Dr Jamal Rifi, pictured at his southwest Sydney practice in 2018, has said a ‘Friends of Tony Burke’ coalition would look to re-elect the Labor MP. Picture: Chris Pavlich

“Volunteers can post on social media, but we’ll focus on doorknocking and community radio,” he said, pointing to the Voice of Islam, whose general manager has criticised the Muslim Vote.

Dr Rifi compared the campaign to “Tupperware parties” – where sales representatives would invite people over to see new products – saying they’d host BBQs or coffees to build a “cascade” of pro-Tony conversations.

“We won’t differentiate between Jason and Tony, if people’s families live in the neighbouring electorate the message will be the same,” he said.

A difference between Dr Rifi’s thinking and the Muslim Vote is the lessons learnt from Senator Fatima Payman’s resignation.

Dr Rifi said he supported her crossing of the floor, but that her threat to repeat the move, which led to her suspension, meant a strong ALP Muslim voice had been lost. “The community wants voices in the corridors of power and (Senator Payman) was a loss of talent,” he said.

The Muslim Vote has said her suspension showed community interests were best served outside party apparatuses.

It follows Mr Burke’s cabinet elevation on Sunday, which the opposition claimed was to shore up Labor’s standing in southwest Sydney. Islamic bodies welcomed the move, but urged more action for Palestinian refugees.

The Muslim Vote will hold a volunteer session on Saturday, but sources described an “information blockage” between its conveners and the community’s formal leaders.

Two competing internal strategies had also become entrenched: whether to become a quasi party and run candidates, or to provide support to organically emerging pro-Palestine independents.

“Frank conversations” with the campaign have also been had with community figures concerned with parts of its approach.

“(One internal group) wants to do what (Simon) Holmes a Court did (with the teals) and provide funding and strategy,” a political source with knowledge of the situation said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

“But others want to run candidates and ‘own the cause’.”

Although the Muslim Vote said in July that it would imminently announce candidates, it has yet to do so.

The Australian understands that “articulate and popular” Lakemba-based Dr Ziad Basyouny was approached to gauge his interest in running as a campaign-backed independent, and while it’s understood that he was “receptive”, he hasn’t so far agreed.

Sources separately said the Muslim Vote had secured funding agreements in principle but they had not materialised, given concerns about whether its approach could backfire.

Muslim Vote convener Sheik Charkawi speaks at Martin Place, Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

While there was support for the campaign’s message and frustration with the government, some Muslim bodies preferred to safeguard ties with incumbents, believing it better to have voices within the government.

The success of “Gaza independents” at July’s British election has been read in different ways. Dr Rifi has argued that their election meant there were fewer pro-Palestine voices within the new Starmer government, although the Muslim Vote wants to replicate their success.

Dr Rifi alleged the campaign had “bullied” people who didn’t fully align with its own aims.

One Muslim Vote adviser publicly criticised Labor councillor Sabrin Farooqui who believed it was better to stay within a party to advocate for Palestine, and Instagram accounts affiliated with the campaign slammed former AFL player Bachar Houli for posing with Mr Clare.