Greens’ candidate Sonya Semmens uninvited from Macnamara debate

Protesters have worn anti-Greens merchandise to a Jewish Community Candidate’s Forum in inner Melbourne as Labor MP Josh Burns faced off with Liberal candidate Benson Saulo.

The contest to win over Victoria’s largest Jewish community has kicked off, with Macnamara MP Josh Burns facing off against his Liberal rival Benson Saulo in a hotly-anticipated debate.

Hundreds of Jewish community members flooded into Temple Beth Israel in St Kilda on Wednesday night to watch the Jewish Community Candidate’s Forum for the ultra-marginal seat.

About 12 per cent of the population in the inner southeastern suburbs electorate is Jewish, with many in the community concerned by soaring antisemitism, and cultural and religious tensions.

It is also one of tightest three-way contests in the country, with Labor securing 31.8 per cent of the vote on first preferences in 2022, followed by the Greens with 29.7 per cent and the Liberals on 29 per cent.

Benson Saulo is the Liberal candidate in Macnamara. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Josh Burns is the incumbent MP in the ultra-marginal seat. Picture: Martin Ollman

Only Mr Burns and Mr Saulo went head-to-head in the debate after Greens’ candidate Sonya Semmens was uninvited from taking part.

The Herald Sun understands many members of the Jewish community believe the minor party is responsible for stoking anti-Semitism.

The first question put to Mr Burns was about whether he could give an assurance that the Greens would be put last.

Mr Burns – who is expected to run an open ticket – said preference decisions are a matter for the party and will be released in coming days.

But he said he wasn’t worried about the Liberal Party winning the seat, but instead the Greens.

“That is the biggest concern I’ve got,” Mr Burns said.

“The only people that can win this seat is the Greens or I.”

Mr Saulo hit back and said the Liberals “can absolutely win”, prompting a huge cheer from the crowd.

The preference flows will make it difficult for the Liberals to steal Macnamara from Labor.

That’s unless incumbent Mr Burns is given a special exemption from Labor to preference the Liberals above the Greens.

Mr Burns was heckled as told the crowd he had been fighting for the Jewish community.

“Bulls**t,” was person said, prompting others to chime in.

“Lies,” yelled another.

At the end of the debate, one man stood up and shouted: “Josh you are a friend of Israel, but your Labor mates are not.”

A group of community members rocked up to the debate wearing anti-Greens merchandise.

“Can’t vote Greens, not this time,” their T-shirts read.

Ms Semmens told the Herald Sun she believed in Israel’s right to exist and wanted to see a “lasting peace that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and equality”.

“Unlike Labor and the Liberals, the Greens also believe in Palestine’s right to freedom and statehood,” she said.

She claimed climate and environmental issues were top issues for voters in the electorate, followed by cost-of-living and housing.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said platforming the Greens candidate “legitimises a political party that has played a central role in emboldening antisemitism through rhetoric that has delegitimised the State of Israel, vilified the Jewish community, and ignored or diminished the trauma of October 7 and its aftermath”.

Prior to the debate, moderators warned attendees to not shout or heckle the candidates.

In his opening address to the room, Mr Burns, who is Jewish but has faced criticism from his community who claim he hasn’t done enough to combat rising anti-Semitism, said the last two years had been the most “difficult years” of his professional and personal life.

“I have not stood idly by. I have stood up and been a proud Jew inside the Labor Party,” he said.

Mr Saulo, who began by telling the crowd about his Indigenous heritage, said the Jewish community wanted “clear, tangible action to address antisemitism and … clear-sighted leadership”.

“Which I believe that only a Peter Dutton, Coalition government can actually deliver,” he said.

It comes less than a week after Teal MP for Goldstein Zoe Daniel was heckled during a fierce debate with Liberal rival, Tim Wilson, at the first Jewish community election forum.

Originally published as Greens’ candidate Sonya Semmens uninvited from Macnamara debate