Shifting demographics and anger over the war in Gaza among voters in Melbourne’s inner north could see Labor lose out
The federal Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says the fact that the party’s state leader, Samantha Ratnam, is contesting Wills shows the electorate is a priority for them.The federal Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says the fact that the party’s state leader, Samantha Ratnam, is contesting Wills shows the electorate is a priority for them.
“It’s really significant that Sam’s taking this chance, I think it is testament to a broader shift that is occurring in this electorate ,” he says. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup It’s also no coincidence the announcement of Ratnam’s candidacy was on Coburg’s Sydney Road, which is dotted by European and Middle Eastern stores and delis – and across the road from Khalil’s electorate office.
Having fled war-torn Sri Lanka for Canada in the late 1980s before settling in Melbourne, she says like migrants and First Nations peoples, she has empathy for the plight of the Palestinians. Kos Samaras, a former Victorian Labor assistant state secretary who is now a pollster with RedBridge, says there are several electorates with large Muslim communities, once loyal to Labor, who are “looking for alternatives”.
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