Peter Dutton's 'Muslim candidates' comment clarified amid internal criticism

The Liberal Party plans to run several candidates of Muslim background in the forthcoming election.

Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has drawn criticism for remarks that Muslim political candidates from western Sydney would be a "disaster". A Coalition spokesman has now sought to clarify the statement. Source: AAP / Russell Freeman

Key Points

• A Liberal local government politician has criticised Peter Dutton for comments around Muslim candidates.
• A spokesman has since clarified the comments, saying it was about independents in a hung parliament.
• There will be at least three Liberal Muslim candidates vying for office in Victoria and New South Wales.

The federal Opposition has clarified controversial comments by Liberal leader Peter Dutton in which he said Muslim political candidates from western Sydney would be a "disaster" after a Liberal councillor branded them "harmful" and said they made Dutton "unfit" to lead the party and country.

Earlier this month, Dutton was addressing questions in a press conference around Afghan-born Muslim senator Fatima Payman, who left the Labor Party after she vowed to continue crossing the floor in support of Palestinian statehood.

A backlash against Labor's stance on the war in Gaza has led to a coalition of Muslim groups called the Muslim Vote and Muslim Votes Matter, which have established a political movement aimed at recruiting independent candidates to run in Labor seats with large Arab and Muslim populations.

On 4 July, Dutton said: "I think what it does demonstrate is that the prime minister, if he's in a minority government in the next term of parliament, it will include the Greens, it'll include the Green-teals, it'll include Muslim candidates from Western Sydney, it will be a disaster."

The comments were criticised as "an absolute disgrace" and "bigotry at its finest" by Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja.

In a public statement addressed to Dutton, Liberal councillor Mazhar Hadid, from the western Sydney Liverpool council, said the comments had caused harm.

Liverpool councillor Mazhar Hadid has criticised Peter Dutton's comments around Muslim candidates. Source: Supplied / Facebook

"Your statements not only damage our party's reputation and go against our values but also insults 3.5 per cent of the Australian population who identify as Muslim," Hadid said.

"This is not just a political misstep; it reflects poorly on our cause and commitment to inclusivity and respect for all Australians."

Hadid questioned what Dutton's stance would be if the leader of the Opposition found himself in a minority government that included Muslims.

He also pointed out the Liberal Party had endorsed candidates from the Muslim community.

"Your approach and rhetoric make it abundantly clear that you are unfit to lead our great party," Hadid said.

"It is not just your capacity to lead our party that is in question but also your suitability to govern our country effectively."

Hadid told SBS News he was not the only member of the Liberal party who felt the same way about Dutton's comments, but declined to elaborate.

Dutton is currently on leave in the United States.

A spokesperson for the acting leader of the Opposition, Sussan Ley, said Dutton was referring to the impact of independents in a hung parliament.

"He specifically references Muslim Vote independents alongside the Greens and the Teals," the spokesperson said in a statement to SBS News.

"We welcome multicultural candidates and people of faith to run in politics, of course we do."

Afghan-born Zahid Safi is running as a Liberal candidate for the Victorian seat of Bruce, currently held by Labor MP Julian Hill. Source: Supplied / Facebook

The spokesman pointed to the endorsement of Liberal Muslim candidates in Victoria and NSW — including Usman Ghani in Calwell, Zahid Safi in Bruce and Sam Kayal in Werriwa.

"We do not believe independents that seek to represent a specific ethnicity or faith group in the parliament help with social cohesion and nor will they contribute to the stability we need to address the many challenges our nation faces today."

SBS News approached Safi for comment. He asked to make a written statement which was not received by the time of publication.