Mezze, juice and calls for unity: Muslim Votes Matter campaign kicks off

For long-term observers of Muslim community politics, there was much that was familiar about the launch of the Muslim Votes Matter campaign at Broadmeadows Town Hall on Sunday afternoon.

There were the tables set out with platters of mezze and jugs of juice and soft drinks, the observance of the asr prayer, the familiar faces of veteran community leaders, the impassioned calls for unity. Also familiar during the lead-up to the event were the dog-whistling responses from LNP politicians, with Peter Dutton having described the potential election of Muslim candidates in western Sydney as a “disaster”.