An Australian Muslim convert is contesting a Liberal-held lower house seat in the Western Australian election to “stick up for the underdog”.
Toni Pikos-Sallie said she had never thought of entering politics until she was approached by the Greens but decided it would be a platform to counter what she said was a rise in the marginalisation of minorities.
“The time to speak up about this issue is now,” she said.
“I don’t think we can afford to wait in silence any longer while it festers and increases because of that absence of voice and representation.
“I’m Australian, I grew up with these values, I stick up for the underdog … it’s just not in me to sit there and say nothing and do nothing.”
The mother of five said the rise in popularity of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party and comments about the by politicians such as Jacqui Lambie were creating fear among Muslim community members.
Ms Pikos-Sallie said she was worried about the effect on Muslim children when they were exposed to political statements from Pauline Hanson that Australia was "in danger of being swamped by Muslims, who bear a culture and ideology that is incompatible with our own", referring to the One Nation leader's in September.
“Do I fear bigotry, fear and isolation and marginalisation becoming the new norm?” Ms Pikos-Sallie said.
“It is the new norm.
“Do I fear that if that carries on it will have devastating consequences for people in the Muslim communities and in the long term for wider Australian society?
“Absolutely I do.”
Imams join WA election fray
Several Perth imams have spoken out against the One Nation party.
They have handed out 'how-to-vote' cards at local mosques instructing followers to put the Greens party first.
In a statement the imams said they actually wanted Labor to take office, but with Greens preferences.
They said it would send a message to Labor that they were not happy about the party “flirting with the idea of doing a preference deal” with One Nation.
“We can no longer afford to be spectators to the hate propaganda and racism that is being orchestrated by Pauline Hanson and her party,” the statement read.
“We can no longer remain silent upon this injustice as injustice committed anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Greens candidate Toni Pikos-Sallie with former Greens MLC Alison Xamon at the Greens party Perth office. Source: Ryan Emery
Australian diversity
Greens party member and former upper-house politician Alison Xamon said the party wanted a Muslim candidate to represent a diverse Australia.
She said One Nation had previously targeted Asian Australians in its first inception and still engaged in politics of blame.
“All that’s happened is they are shifting their hatred to different parts of the Australian community," Ms Xamon said.
“They actually have no place here within the parliament.”
Ms Xamon said One Nation’s political resurgence had legitimised some Australians' views on immigration and multiculturalism.
“I think that we are seeing a shift globally and people are feeling emboldened and more entitled to speak out with the politics of division,” she said.
“I think it’s incredibly sad and I think it’s really dangerous.”
But the Greens think they could benefit from the fall-out from the rise of One Nation.
A preference deal with the West Australian Liberal Party and One Nation has angered some Liberal supporters who Ms Xamon claimed would now vote for the Greens.
One Liberal candidate Eleni Evangel, who is trying to hold on to her seat of Perth, has even taken out a Facebook advertisement to denounce One Nation’s policies and reject her party's deal.
Notre Dame University political lecturer Martin Drum said it would be unlikely that disaffected inner-city Liberal voters would turn to the Greens.
“There might be some people who cross over from Liberal to Labor because of the preference deal,” he said.
“But equally there’s lots of conservatives that are not troubled by this preference deal and see some synergies between these two conservative parties.”
Dr Drum said the Greens' attacks on One Nation and the promotion of a Muslim candidate might not boost their chances at the ballot box.
“I do wonder whether it primarily appeals to their own supporters anyway,” he said.
“I’m not sure it attracts a whole range of people who normally wouldn’t vote for them.”
One Nation WA spokesperson Colin Tincknell said the Greens were confusing state and federal One Nation policies.
He said the state party had no policy on immigration and rejected claims that the party could be considered racist.
