The Muslim Stand in Queensland election: Labor’s last efforts

Photo: Ahmed Abdulhamed

The recent swings in the Queensland State Election, driven by concerns about genocide, have revived debates about representation. 

At the Kuraby polling booth on 26 October, Labor MP James Martin surprised observers with his presence throughout the day—in more ways than one.

In the days leading up to the election, rumours circulated about a potential backlash from Muslim voters against Martin in his second electoral contest for the seat of Stretton.

The contest was also an emotionally charged hero’s journey featuring Ahmed Abdulhamed, a candidate who ventured into the daunting world of politics to advocate for Palestinians, his family, and his community.

His decision to run, as a clearly Muslim candidate for the Greens, was announced several months before the election.

Martin’s presence at the Kuraby booth, alongside a couple of local Muslim community supporters and a sea of their red-clad volunteers, seemed to solidify his bid for a second term.

However, it was the manner of his appearance that suggested a deeper disconnect. The Labor MP was seen wearing a suit without a jacket, sleeves rolled up, standing well inside the polling area as voters entered.

A local Muslim community leader stood by him, dressed in matching attire, introducing Martin to voters as “your local member James” while holding a handful of printed pages containing Martin’s parliamentary speech on Israel and Palestine as a form of endorsement.

For many Muslim observers, Martin appeared to be heading towards a fate as a mere footnote in history, a reflection of a community that had reached its limit. 

Social media buzzed with reactions ranging from amusement to condemnation as voters debated the implications of the Muslim vote in Kuraby.

Amid the mainstream media frenzy, little attention was paid to the silent storm brewing in Woodridge and Stretton, led by newly minted political heroes Ansary Muhammed and Ahmed Abdulhamed.

The campaign for Ansary, the Greens candidate for Woodridge, a late entrant with only three weeks of campaigning, could only be described as electric. Their efforts sparked excitement and anxiety among Brisbane Muslims, prompting deeper questions about politics’ potential to address the unmitigated violence we were witnessing on our screens.

 

Election day, particularly what I witnessed at the Kuraby booth, revived questions about systemic biases, internalised racism, and conflicts of interest among certain community “leaders”—those recognised by government figures, but not necessarily by our community.

One voter shouted, “There is only one issue: Palestine! Vote Greens!” with his fist in the air. Many voters turned down flyers from volunteers representing Labor and the LNP. Another voter remarked, “Why is he there trying to get people to vote for him? Shame!” referring to Martin and his Muslim ally attempting to pressure voters at the last minute.

While some have criticised the Greens for their perceived fringe representation in mainstream media, this presents uncertainty and discomfort rather than an insurmountable divide between the party and Muslim voters.

Muslim voters are learning that the Greens, like our community, also need to bypass the media establishment and work with the grassroots to get their message out. And that the Greens allow for conscience votes unlike Labor.

The real issue lies in Queensland Labor’s failure to scrutinise its funding to weapons companies that supply goods to Israel (directly or through another country), as well as its reluctance to acknowledge Israel’s violations of international law, including apartheid and human rights abuses in Gaza, despite findings from the highest court in the world.

Nice MPs like James Martin can no longer rely solely on attending our events, delivering carefully worded speeches, and distributing community grants—decisions made by the department rather than him.

Less sympathetic figures like Cameron Dick, who seeks to expand, not limit, the role of locally produced weapons for Israel’s supply chain have no hope of winning over voters concerned about Queensland’s role in genocide.

Both failed to take up the opportunity to make relevant public commitments despite local pressure.

This lack of authentic representation has been dissected in TikTok and Instagram videos, where community members are finding their roles as builders of courage and resolve.

Stories about Palestine and Lebanon, particularly those featuring Arab or Muslim voices, are often told without input from writers from the region. The media crafts narratives with different characters about inevitable conflicts, portraying people who simply must die.

One friend quips that mainstream media has invented an entirely alien language about Gaza. In contrast, platforms like Pearls and Irritations have been praised for their groundbreaking analyses of Australia’s defence and foreign policy roles, while AMUST have provided a space for Muslim and Palestinian journalists to share real-world insights.

As voter education initiatives like Muslim Votes Matter demonstrate, genuine inclusivity can yield significant rewards.

The appropriation of Muslim voter support is not a new topic of discussion. In a political landscape dominated by a Western perspective, parties like Labor have faced backlash for escalating national security and terrorism debates for political gain, while rarely addressing their complicity in arming or funding genocide, as they are legally obliged to do.

They have treated Muslim voters as accessories to don when convenient, hoping we forget that we are stuck in an abusive relationship if we continue to vote for them.

Another friend jokes, “Labor thinks that scaring us about an LNP government is enough to keep us locked in. But Labor is the same pain, just with painkillers.”

I have previously written about how the two-party system keeps us trapped in a mindset that views Labor as more moderate on racial issues. We once believed Labor had greater capacity for social justice, but we learned, particularly regarding Muslims and US imperialism, that is simply not true.

Similarly, recent Facebook promotional shots featuring Albanese with the Islamic Museum of Australia illustrate how Labor leaders celebrate the appearance of friendship, provided they do not have to enact any substantial changes in foreign or defence policy.

They also seek to frame our political activism as a threat to democracy, labelling it terrorism or unwelcome “religious-based” interference in politics.

Once, they enjoyed promotional shoots in our mosques, but that dynamic has shifted over the past year, thanks to grassroots movements.

Community leaders, with undeclared conflicts of interest, are quick to label this people’s movement as “backward, reactionary, and shortsighted,” suggesting a long-term strategy to reform the establishment from within.

Yet, the fact that Labor’s rank-and-file have been unable to shift the party’s defence or foreign policy positions amidst historic genocide findings by international courts is telling. Elected officials, whether in government or opposition, learn not from their members but from losing votes.

We now see that while they may adorn a Labor politician in Eid decorations and speak about the wonders of diversity, that same party denies real protections under the genocide convention for Muslim women and men, failing to address racial apartheid, occupation, ethnic cleansing, and a range of war crimes.

Protections that should come from nations imposing penalties, not merely the UN. This hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed; social media users highlight this phenomenon.

It’s important to note that the movement against the two-party system isn’t exclusively a Muslim phenomenon; it has become the prevailing sentiment across Australian communities, reflected in voting trends.

Despite being criticised for their positions, neither the Labor Party, the LNP, nor anyone affiliated with the media has responded.

James Martin is not the first Labor MP to make a questionable statement at a polling booth—handing out a weak speech as a testament to his character.

Tony Burke, Graham Perrett, Ged Kearney, and Julian Hill have frequently been accused of attempting to mislead voters and presenting a “proverbial sandwich” on their social media feeds, or altering their appearances to seem more moderate by attacking Dutton for being extreme.

However, politicians typically respond to criticisms when they cause significant distress in the community. It’s not merely the lack of sensitivity and respect for the rule of law regarding Gaza that stands out; it’s the refusal of these politicians to engage with voters honestly on these crucial topics.

There’s also a deeper issue concerning why the mere appearance of care for our community carries profound implications. The stark contrast between promotional shots with Islamic Museum staff and haunting images of grieving Palestinian women, many of whom are trying to escape deadly bombings, is jarring.

While Labor captivates social media with its pride and controversy, the images emerging from Gaza reveal a harrowing reality of displacement, loss, and profound anguish.

Videos featuring the brave Ansary Muhammed, the Greens candidate for Woodridge, performing what can only be described as acts of heroism circulated widely. Filmed with a range of local supporters, Ansary was celebrated as someone who didn’t seek power but who would be a blessing to represent us. A charity worker who has fed rough sleepers and the homeless for 14 years, Ansary stood out from his opponents, particularly the incumbent.

Despite being surrounded by extensive advertising from other contenders, Ansary successfully conveyed a message to incumbent Cameron Dick, achieving significant swings and almost surpassing the LNP for second place on first preferences, transforming Woodridge from a safe seat to a competitive one for the next election.

Ahmed, the Greens candidate for Stretton, defeated James Martin on first preferences at the Kuraby booth, sending a historic message, and increasing the Greens’ share of first preferences by more than seven fold.

The horrific videos and images from Gaza are inescapable; they dominate our TV screens and social media feeds. While elections unfold, the devastation endured by the people of Gaza continues unabated. The harsh reality of the situation is precisely what has driven hundreds of thousands in places like Brisbane, where the Woodridge and Stretton battles occurred, to protest for months.

Just as the images coming from Gaza serve as painful reminders of urgency, they also testify to the enduring strength of Palestinian men and women. Every individual who volunteers to run for office or supports someone running in Australia exemplifies our collective resilience.

Looking ahead, the federal election looms, with at least one promising candidate announced: Remah Naji, a Palestinian woman running with the Greens. Her seat of Moreton overlaps with the state seat of Stretton and includes Kuraby.

As I navigated through social media comments about the power of Muslim political activism, a recurring thought emerged: The irony of elections is that, while traditionally associated with apathy, toxicity, and whiteness, in this context, they evoke the opposite. 

*The author Rita Jabri Markwell volunteered to support Ahmed Abdulhamed’s campaign.