Local Labors MPs including member for Corio, Richard Marles, and member for Corangamite, Libby Coker, must denounce the attempt by anti-Israel activists to infiltrate the City of Greater Geelong, according to Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson.
“Candidates should be focused on putting our community first consistent with the core responsibilities of local government, not using council elections as a Trojan horse to advance their hateful, anti-Israel agenda,” Senator Henderson said.
To date, 16 council candidates in Greater Geelong have signed a ‘We vote for Palestine’ pledge in whole or in part, along with five candidates running for election in Surf Coast, Queenscliffe and Golden Plains.*
The ‘We vote for Palestine’ candidates – members of the Greens, Socialist Alliance and Labor Party as well as extreme-left independents – are seeking to sow seeds of division in our community.
“I call on all Labor MPs across the region to denounce this attempt to hijack local councils.
“That Richard Marles, the Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister, has sat in stony silence as these candidates run their divisive and hateful agenda is disturbing.
“Mr Marles and Ms Coker need to prioritise the best interests of our community by pledging to put these candidates last,” Senator Henderson concluded.
*The full list of candidates is at https://wevoteforpalestine.