The Labor member set to be parachuted into Victoria’s upper house this week led a motion as a councillor to condemn “Israel’s massacre in Gaza” and served on a council that allowed radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir to host an anti-Israel conference in its town hall.
Workplace injury lawyer Enver Erdogan’s likely candidacy has sparked concern among ALP members in the southern metropolitan seat recently vacated by Greek-Jewish MP Philip Dalidakis, who quit to take up a senior position with Australia Post.
The area is home to a large Jewish community.
Opponents have highlighted Mr Erdogan’s time on the inner-northern Melbourne Moreland City Council, which saw him move a successful motion during the 2008-09 conflict between Israel and Hamas condemning the “Israeli massacre in Gaza”.
The council allowed Hizb ut-Tahrir to host a conference in Brunswick Town Hall in August 2010.
Mr Erdogan today distanced himself from the council’s decision on Hizb ut-Tahrir, saying he opposed “extremism and fundamentalism in all forms” and had “no involvement” in booking of council facilities.
Asked about his motion on Gaza, he said: “Of course I fully support Israel’s right to exist as an independent state and I support a two-state solution.”
Mr Erdogan’s likely appointment fulfils a deal that guaranteed his faction, the socially conservative Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, the next upper house seat.
Read the article by Rachel Baxendale in The Australian.