Focus Macnamara: Jewish voters give Liberals hope

A Liberal candidate has never won Macnamara, or its previous incarnation Melbourne Ports, and it would take a very unlikely 12.2% swing for Benson Saulo to do so on May 3.

But Saulo may well poll higher than Liberal candidates have in the past. He is coming into the election with an unusual advantage with the 12% of Jewish voters in the electorate. Some are so disappointed with the government’s Israel policy and so shaken by rising antisemitism that they will vote against Labor for the first time in their lives.

Saulo is a first time political candidate. Unlike all other major candidates in The Jewish Independent’s focus electorates, he declined to make himself available for interview, claiming too many interview requests, but provided written answers to questions.

He names the cost of living, community safety, and antisemitism as the three most important issues for Macnamara voters.

“I am engaging every day with Macnamara locals from the Jewish community and hearing of their increased anxiety caused by antisemitism. The fear in their voice is evident. Within that fear is a great feeling of disappointment. Jewish people tell me they feel abandoned by Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong and Labor. They are shocked that Labor has allowed antisemitism to rise to the levels it has,” he said.

Saulo, 36, has some claim to understanding cultural diversity and faith links. He is of mixed Aboriginal-Papua New Guinea heritage and is proud of the connections between the Aboriginal and Jewish communities.

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He is a religious Christian who visited Israel in 2023 on a holy sites tour — his upbringing involved a minister father and parents who met at Bible College — and says "Judeo-Christian values have always underpinned my life".

Professionally, he has the classic Liberal profile of a self-starter made good. He started working as a bank teller at 15 and progressed to business banking, investments, and a stint as a diplomat based in the US. He lives in the electorate, with his wife and three young children.