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.

“I believe my unique life experience and backgrounds provide me a solid footing to represent my community and be a strong voice for them in Canberra,” he said.

The biggest challenge for Saulo with Jewish voters will be the fear in the community that a Liberal candidate can’t win but can reduce Labor’s vote to the point where Labor’s preferences are distributed to the Greens. Such a scenario could result in a Greens win, a prospect that Jewish voters switching Liberal over Israel or antisemitism clearly do not want.

Saulo denies this is a risk. “The best way to avoid the Greens winning in Macnamara is to number every box on the ballot paper and to put The Greens last,” he said.

Saulo’s rhetoric is a clear Dutton line about the need to “get Australia back on track”, with a strong emphasis on community safety underlying the cost-of-living priority.

Asked if Jews should vote on antisemitism or Israel policy he answers diplomatically, “Jewish voters should have the freedom to vote on the issues that matter to them.”

But he is voluble when asked what a Liberal government would do differently on antisemitism.

“The Coalition will take a national leadership role expected of the Commonwealth Government, including convening a National Cabinet to combat antisemitism and extremism.

“We will create a new, dedicated Antisemitism Taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police and incorporating the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), the Australian Border Force (ABF) and state police.

“We will issue a new Ministerial Direction to the AFP to direct them to prioritise addressing antisemitism, including any unsolved crimes against the Jewish community such as doxxing, public display of terrorist symbols, incitement, harassment, and other offences.

“We will direct the Antisemitism Taskforce to refer any visa holders involved in acts of antisemitism for immediate cancellation and deportation.

“If necessary, we will amend the section 501 character provisions of the Migration Act to ensure antisemitic conduct is captured by the law and applies retrospectively for all acts of hatred towards the Jewish community since the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel.

“We will establish a judicial inquiry into campus antisemitism.

“We will deliver the $32.5 million security funding package requested by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry without any strings attached, including funding armed guards at schools and synagogues – unlike the Albanese Labor Government who have restricted funding to unarmed guards only.

“We will provide $7.5 million over three years in additional funding to Crime Stoppers, to enable Crime Stoppers to expand its operations and protect more Australians from the devastating impact of crime in local communities, and to address the antisemitism and extremism crisis.”

That’s certainly a list that is likely to get the attention of Jewish voters, though whether a slightly differently constituted Antisemitism Taskforce, the same amount of security funding applied somewhat differently, or directions to the Federal Police that appear to be already in place really constitute a difference in policy is moot.

On foreign policy, the difference is clearer and Saulo knows this is an issue of deep concern with Macnamara’s Jewish voters. “Labor has abandoned long standing bipartisan support for Israel at the United Nations. Labor has walked away from decades of bipartisan policy on Israel by supporting the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state before any peace process, before the return of the hostages, and before Hamas relinquishes power in Gaza,” he said.

Following the line emphasised by Liberal leader Peter Dutton, he makes a link between the foreign policy changes and rise in antisemitism, and emphasises the fear in the community.

“Jewish people in the Macnamara community have told me they are worried about an attack on their home, their business, or an attack online. Only a Coalition Government will show the strength and leadership needed to curb this out-of-control antisemitism crisis,” he said.

Saulo is facing a big battle in a safe Labor seat with a well-liked sitting MP, even if he gets a big swing from the 12% of Jewish voters. But he is far from conceding: “Australia is an always-evolving landscape, and our federal electorates change as a result. I believe a contest of different ideas from different candidates is important so that voters have a choice. I’m working hard every day to give them that choice.”

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Focus Macnamara: Labor hears the pain
Focus Macnamara: Greens want to earn back Jewish vote