Hopefuls tackle tough topics
EXPERIENCE battled a fresh face on Sunday evening at Beth Weizmann Community Centre as adversaries Michael Danby and Kevin Ekendahl faced off in the only Jewish-themed election debate in Melbourne Ports.
EXPERIENCE battled a fresh face on Sunday evening at Beth Weizmann Community Centre as adversaries Michael Danby and Kevin Ekendahl faced off in the only Jewish-themed election debate in Melbourne Ports.
Hosted by The AJN and the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, both the Labor incumbent, Danby, and the Liberal candidate, Ekendahl, staked their claim for electors’ votes.
The tone was civil as Ekendahl paid tribute to Danby’s work for the community, but took a swipe at the ALP.
“Michael has been a loud and proud advocate of the Jewish community,” he said. “I think it is important to note that Michael has spoken out against his party on the issues affecting Israel … he has shown courage to stand out at times, which is never easy to do in the Labor party, which is full of questionable supporters of Israel.”
Danby spoke of a closed meeting between the Jewish community and Prime Minister Julia Gillard held earlier the same day, where Gillard reiterated her appreciation of the Jewish education system.
“She spoke of the Jewish community’s love of education, she spoke of how she had learnt through her life, not just in Australia, but worldwide, the Jewish parents’ attitude to their kids getting a Jewish education. She said she wanted to bring that vision, that love of education, to Australia,” Danby said.
Around 150 interested voters attended the event, questioning the leaders on possible military action against Iran, The Greens and education.
When one audience member expressed concerns to Danby about preference deals between Labor and The Greens, the MP reassured the audience that if The Greens win the balance of power, Jewish interests would be protected.
“I can imagine that any sensible Labor senators, and I know most of them, would block vote with the Liberals rather than threaten Jewish education,” the member for the past 12 years said.
The economy was also a topic of interest, with one voter asking why the Liberals opposed the second stimulus package.
“We didn’t vote against the vote stimulus round,” he said. “We said the second round was too big and wasn’t warranted. We wanted to see whether we really did need it.”
NAOMI LEVIN
PHOTO: Michael Danby, photo: Peter Haskin
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