Victorian election: Andrews Labor government secretly axes candidate Nurul Khan

Labor candidate accuses party chiefs of abruptly cutting him loose over ‘false and anonymous’ allegations.

Nurul Khan, left, campaigning with Point Cook Labor candidate Mat Hilakari, right

The Victorian ALP has secretly dumped an election candidate, sparking claims from the Labor hopeful that he was unfairly axed after being ambushed by an anonymous and false dirt sheet.

Bangladeshi-born Nurul Khan was cut from Labor’s upper house western metropolitan ticket four days ago, but ALP chiefs have not publicly announced the lawyer’s removal.

Mr Khan has accused the Victorian ALP of denying him natural justice by failing to give him a chance to contest the allegations.

“The decision was taken based on an anonymous email,” he told The Australian, confirming he was disendorsed on Saturday. “Of course it is not fair. Being a legal practitioner, my job is to fight for justice.”

Mr Khan says he is the victim of a conspiracy and names purporting to be authors of the ­document listing allegations were used without the permission of those Bangladeshi community members. ALP state secretary Chris Ford stood by the party’s intervention. “We take the integrity and behaviour of all candidates extremely seriously,” a party spokesman said.

The ALP said after allegations about Mr Khan’s conduct and an examination of candidate application materials, the decision was made that Mr Khan was not a suitable candidate.

The Andrews Labor government now faces a backlash from Bangladeshi voters, with resentment over the hardline treatment of Mr Khan growing in the ­community.

Census data reveals about 7000 Bangladeshi-born citizens are eligible to vote on November 26. Many of them live in Labor-held seats in the western suburbs, including Tarneit, Werribee and Point Cook.

The ALP was already bracing for a backlash in its heartland because of anger over pandemic lockdowns and the cost of living. A strong anti-Labor Bangladeshi vote may further hurt the party.

A petition circulating within the Bangladeshi community is demanding answers from the Victorian ALP over its dumping of Mr Khan. “If we do not receive your satisfactory explanation on the details of investigation undertaken in making the decision, we may take this matter further to the wider community in the west,” the petition states.

“ALP may get exposed to the voters on how ALP treat and discriminate the minority community … we are ready to reflect this in the ballot.”

The petition states that the individuals who appeared on the dirt sheet sent to Labor headquarters had claimed their names were used without consent. “It is clear that Australian Labor Party Victorian branch did not contract them to verify these allegations against Mr Khan brought by faceless individual and his accomplices,” the petition states.

“We strongly believe Mr Khan is a victim of false allegations made by a few individuals who might have personal or business relationship issues with Mr Khan and trying to take advantage. We are of the opinion that without any proper investigation and uncovering the truth, such harsh judgment taken by ALP is unfair, discrimination and un­expected in a civil society and doesn’t go with Labor values.

“The community members also began to believe that this is a clear discrimination to our minority Southeast Asian community by the Australian Labor Party and ready to give their verdict in the upcoming election.”

Mr Khan’s name may still ­appear on the ballot paper, as it was still listed on the Victorian Electoral Commission’s website on Wednesday.