Victoria’s hot seats week four as it happened: Our on-camera chat with Amelia Hamer in Kooyong; A battle of Wills: NOBS group highlights what’s missing north of Bell Street

Notably absent was local Labor MP Peter Khalil.

NOBS was formed during the coronavirus lockdowns, when residents in the northern suburbs of Fawkner, Hadfield and Glenroy were confined to their homes.

“Fawkner was one of the suburbs that had a hard lockdown,” says Yusuf. “We had police vans scanning numberplates, and we had the creek on one end and the freeway on the other – we really were stuck in here.”

Around 70 per cent of the group is Muslim, Yusuf says. “We broke bread during Ramadan one year after the lockdowns. And we realised it was a brilliant little group of people.”

What began as a loose group of neighbours has become a more organised effort, with the group now lobbying for services like those already available in the richer southern parts of the electorate, which takes in North Fitzroy, Princes Hill and North Carlton.

“I used to live in Brunswick and the services you have there are superb,” he says. “But when you hit the 60km/h zone up here in the north of Wills, you see median strips not being maintained, the parks and public toilets are worse, there is no equity in provision of public services – why are we treated differently to our counterparts in the south of the seat?”

A complaint I’ve heard repeatedly while reporting on Wills is that the Upfield train line – already one of Melbourne’s most infrequent – is even less reliable beyond Coburg.

“Everything stops at Coburg and they cancel them and run them back into the city,” Yusuf says.

Though train services are a state responsibility, both Khalil and Ratnam are campaigning on the issue.

Ratnam says she will lobby hard for the duplication of the rail line, while Khalil says state and federal Labor will spend $7 million on a northern corridor study that includes potentially duplicating the rail line.

(State Labor hasn’t helped instil trust in Khalil’s message, recently cancelling a train turn-back on the Upfield line at Gowrie station as part of a cost-cutting process for the Metro Tunnel.)

Yusuf says Fawkner in particular has consistently poorer government services than other areas in the electorate. “Labor has taken us for granted,” he says.

Khalil is aware of the discontent. This month, he pledged $4.6 million to upgrade the courts at Fawkner Netball Club if Labor is re-elected.

Yusuf also says Gaza is a critical issue around his suburb, and that this may cause Labor to lose votes to the Greens. The Greens are openly referring to Israel’s attacks on Gaza – which the Associated Press this week reported had killed 51,000 people, quoting the Palestinian Health Ministry – as “genocide”.

“Palestine is a burning issue around here. In Brunswick it’s an issue because they are progressive people interested in humanitarian issues. Up here, there are so many people with family ties to Palestine. It’s very, very close to a lot of people.”

Yusuf says the NOBS volunteer group is small – just a core of about 10 active members – but when they mobilise, they can draw in as many as 120 supporters.

“We are not going to change things but you can influence things,” he says.

Following local primary schools and scout groups laying wreaths, Wilson was also called up to lay a wreath before he quickly exited the service while it was still going to get to the next service at 6.30am in Caulfield.

Wilson’s Anzac Day activity has been closely watched after the former MP clashed with one of Daniel’s representatives at an Anzac Day service two years ago in Beaumaris. Daniel claimed he took the wreath her representative was supposed to lay.

Wilson defended laying the wreath, saying he was asked to do so by an RSL staff member because Daniel was not in attendance.

There was no conflict over wreaths this Anzac Day with the drama limited to how quickly the two candidates could get around the electorate.

Wilson managed to make it to the Caulfield RSL just in time to lay his own wreath - somewhat to the surprise of the organisers who announced “a representative for Tim Wilson … Tim is actually here, so Tim Wilson” would lay his wreath.

Daniel was still on stage in Hampton so her representative, Francis Leach, laid her wreath, without incident.

Both Daniel and Wilson then headed to the Elwood foreshore for the third Anzac Day ceremony of the day at 8.30am in front of the Elwood Sailing Club.

Elwood is just outside of the Goldstein electorate but both politicians still attended to hear kids from Elwood Primary School read a poem and sing the national anthem before the last post was played.

Daniel was called on to lay a wreath but as Wilson is no longer an elected representative, he was relegated, alongside Liberal candidate for Macnamara, Benson Saulo, to the section of “anybody else who has a wreath to lay, please lay a wreath”.

Daniel and Wilson then headed to Bentleigh for a 10am ceremony where both candidates were called on separately to lay wreaths.

Daniel was seated in the front row and Wilson had to make do with being a few rows back but all went smoothly.

The MP had one further Anzac Day service scheduled, 1pm at the Black Rock Sports Club, and not to be outdone, Wilson also made it along to that one, bringing his tally to five services in one day. One more than Daniel.

Following a redistribution that abolished the neighbouring seat of Higgins, Kooyong’s boundaries this election now include a larger proportion of Jewish voters.

“Nearly 5000 Jewish voters now live within this electorate – a four-fold increase,” noted moderator Lillian Klein.

Hamer, who has skipped three previous public debates in Kooyong (including two this week), appeared at ease throughout the 90-minute event, delivering well-rehearsed lines and drawing regular applause from the crowd. Ryan was more reserved, opening cautiously but gaining confidence during the discussion.

The forum was tense at times, but civil. The two candidates barely addressed one another directly. Among the audience of over 200 people were a handful of supporters wearing Monique Ryan and Liberal-branded shirts.

A few attendees wore “Repeal the Teal” T-shirts – an initiative of the Jewish activist network J-United, which is affiliated with the right-wing lobby group Advance Australia. The campaign has been active in so-called “teal”-held electorates and has distributed material critical of independents, including Ryan, at pre-poll booths this week.

Hamer used her opening remarks to criticise the Albanese government’s response to antisemitism following the October 7 Hamas attacks, accusing it of failing to provide “moral leadership”. She said some Jewish voters in the electorate had shared with her their “escape plans” to leave the country if the situation worsens.

“We can say this is bad … but in the end we need action,” Hamer said, calling for greater enforcement of existing hate speech laws and stricter visa rules. “People don’t have a right to live in this country on a visa if they’re engaging in vile antisemitic conduct.”

Ryan defended her record on action against antisemitism, pointing to her support for legislation against hate speech and doxxing, and her calls for stronger protections for Jewish students on university campuses. “[But] we haven’t stood up early or hard enough,” she said.

One of the forum’s sharpest moments came when Ryan was asked whether she would consider “negotiating with the Greens” in the event of a hung parliament. She took the opportunity to refute the basis of the idea, saying independents can only “negotiate” with a major party to provide supply.

“I will not be negotiating with the Greens,” she said. “They are not going to be in the room … They’re not a party of government.”

Later in the evening, she also defended her decision to co-sign a letter calling for the restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza via UNRWA, the United Nations relief agency. She said the intention was to ensure starving children received assistance, not to support Hamas.

“I won’t apologise for wanting to provide humanitarian aid to children who are dying,” she said, while acknowledging that the agency had “deeply problematic” elements. Ryan said she had since written to the government urging it to explore alternative aid delivery mechanisms, including Australian-backed medical charity Project Rozana.

Hamer had previously said the letter was “effectively calling for Australian taxpayers to fund Hamas terrorists”.

Both candidates said they supported a two-state solution in the Middle East, but neither backed unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Ryan said such negotiations were not currently possible due to the lack of a legitimate governing authority in Gaza. Hamer said now was “not the right time” for recognition.

Hamer reiterated her belief that a change of government in Australia was needed to restore trust and safety. “Australia is a wonderful country, but we’re going to have to fight for it,” she said.

Ryan said she had learned from past missteps and hoped to continue representing Kooyong.

“If I remain your representative for Kooyong after this election, that’s what I’ll try to do,” she said. “I believe that leaders seek to heal divisions, not to stoke them.”

I turned up to Safi’s campaign launch three weeks ago, only to be told to vacate the premises by one of his volunteers before he even turned up.

I spent 8.5 hours at the Dandenong prepoll booth yesterday, hoping for a chance to ask straightforward questions of the man who wants to enter parliament.

His army of volunteers avoided my eye contact and gave vague answers to my questions, and ultimately, he didn’t show up.

Labor MP Julian Hill has challenged him to a debate, but similarly hasn’t heard back, and today released “missing” posters on social media. “Where is the Liberal Party hiding him?” the Facebook post reads.

But today, I was told he’d been spotted at the Narre Warren South polling station around 11.30am so I dropped my late breakfast at a Lebanese bakery in Hallam and zoomed over to meet him.

I found Safi at the entrance wearing chinos and a blue shirt so I quickly parked the car and walked with pace down the pavement to say hello. As I approached, one blue-shirted volunteer yelled out “hey!” to warn of my arrival.

Safi crossed the road, and started walking in the opposition direction, but I followed – camera in hand.

“Hi Zahid! I’m a journalist with The Age.”

A man wearing a fedora, shorts and a white-buttoned shirt and tie followed Safi and responded: “Yeah Charlotte. I know who you are. How are ya?”

I explained I’d been trying to get in touch with Safi for weeks. “Why have you been dodging my media requests?”

Safi had this to say: “Cost of living is a huge issue. We’ve been talking to voters and getting in touch with them. Cost of living and meeting as many voters as possible.”

I then asked about the recent scandals engulfing his campaign, like his family’s NDIS businesses that uses fake reviews, stock images and inaccurate corporate records.

“What about your wife’s business that uses fake reviews? What do you have to say to that?”

Safi dodged the question: “See, the people are concerned about cost of living and that is what we’re focused on.”

As Safi began getting into a car, I asked about Labor senator Jana Stewart calling for an investigation into his businesses.

The fedora-wearing minder tried to keep things positive: “We can talk. We are polite. We can talk. Jump out, mate, jump out.”

Safi climbed back out of the car, smiling.

“What do you say to voters concerns about the legitimacy of your businesses? Why does it use fake reviews?” I asked.

The minder chimed in again: “They’re more interested in crime, aren’t they?”

Safi followed the prod: “Crime is a huge issue and they’re more interested in crime, cost of living. Labor has neglected the people of Bruce.”

I kept pushing. “But I’m asking about your business. There are serious questions. Labor has referred you for an investigation. What do you say about the use of fake reviews? Stock images? ... What’s going on with that?”

Safi didn’t budge. “People are concerned more about cost of living, crime in Bruce, that’s what Labor has neglected. And that’s why we will be coming and getting Australia back on track. Thank you.”

He then got back in the car and said voters needed him. I asked about his former campaign manager Andrew McNabb, who resigned his Liberal Party membership after revelations in this blog about his offensive online comments about women.

Safi closed the car door.

“Why haven’t you been answering my questions this whole campaign?” I asked into the street.

“We’ve been answering them now!” the minder said as he jumped in the car and drove away.

It’s an odd strategy for a candidate trying to flip a historically safe Labor seat. From the beginning I’ve explained that I’m covering the electorate, and would like to learn more about Safi, see how he’s engaging with the community, and be invited to any events in which he was participating.

In a room at the Kew Library filled with civic-minded locals waiting to hear from the Kooyong candidates about the state of the media, the arrival of the three unexpected men disrupted the calm.

Leading them was a bald man with a goatee, wearing a black T-shirt emblazoned with the logo of the “Australian Workers Alliance” – a self-described nationalist organisation whose mission includes the “preservation of Western culture and identity”. One of the other men wore a leather jacket and filmed the room with his phone – a dead giveaway that the goal was to capture a viral “gotcha” moment. The third man, dressed in a grey hoodie and sneakers, loitered nearby with his hands in his pockets as back-up.

An unsuspecting convener approached the man and asked if he had registered. He said yes – then launched into his tirade.

“I want to know when political crime will address the correlation between immigration and crime. When will the politicians address it?

“We have an unprecedented correlation between immigration and crime. When will the politicians address it? You are putting our people at risk,” he boomed, pointing his finger at the candidates: Ryan, Jackie Carter from the Greens, and Clive Crosby from Labor. Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer was a no-show.

With no security guard present and the room stunned, things quickly escalated.

“This is not the forum for that!” one man shouted.

But the agitator – later identified by The Age as Matt Trihey, an associate of neo-Nazis who denies being a neo-Nazi himself – only roared louder. “This is something these people need to answer because the people are being put at risk,” he bellowed.

“Get out of here,” another man yelled. “Rack off, rack off.”

Trihey responded: “Address it, address it. Are you all too scared to address it?” The three candidates, along with MC Jennifer Bowen, sat in silence as several female organisers attempted to usher Trihey out, one pulling at his arm.

“Don’t touch me,” he screamed. “We are governed by parasites! It’s the biggest issue of our time and politicians are ignoring it.”

By now, Ryan had stood up with the microphone, clearly weighing whether and how to respond.

Trihey began ranting about rising rape rates. At that moment, a clearly distressed woman seated near the front, hands over her ears, let out a blood-curdling scream.

Still, Trihey kept ranting. Other attendees yelled, “f--- off!” The woman screamed again. Others tried to calm her down.

A group of women – including Bowen and organisers from ABC Friends – were now actively trying to remove Trihey, but he pushed through them. The room erupted into a cacophony of yelling. Then, the woman who had screamed stormed to the back of the room

“Excuse me, please!” she said, politely nudging aside onlookers before raising her fist and attempting to strike Trihey in the face. Organisers quickly got between them, trying to calm the woman. Ryan moved to console her.

Ryan then asked Greens candidate Jackie Carter to call the police.

Trihey, grinning at the chaos, kept shouting.

“We are the working class, we are the working class,” he yelled.

Eventually, the trio began moving towards the exit. I attempted to ask them who they were and what organisation they represented, but Trihey’s cameraman turned his back. The woman inside screamed again.

Laughing, Trihey said: “I hope I haven’t spoiled your evening, guys. I just want answers!

“I want to go to bed at night and not worry about home invasions.”

An older woman gave Trihey a final shove out the door, to which he responded: “I’m very fragile … have a great day, guys!”

He continued yelling through the sliding doors until an organiser finally closed them.

Outside, I spoke with the trio. Trihey gave his name, but the other two refused. They denied being members of a political party, saying only that they were affiliated with Trihey’s outfit.

A few moments later, the police arrived.

Back inside, Bowen worked to calm the shaken room. One attendee led a brief relaxation exercise.

“If you need to wiggle in your chairs or put your arms in the air or take your feet on the ground, do whatever you need to, because we’re not here to talk about neo-Nazis right now,” she said.

The forum continued for another 40 minutes, including a debate about legislation on social media access for minors and the need for stronger misinformation regulation.

Afterwards, I caught up with Ryan. She said she had spoken to the woman who attempted to hit Trihey, but organisers told me the woman was still quite distressed by the incident.

Ryan also appeared on ABC Radio Melbourne earlier today for a debrief with host Brett McLeod.

“I think the thing that really distressed some of the members of the audience is they started shouting about rape and women’s rape. It was all a bit incoherent, but it was threatening, and it was really unfortunate, because many members of the audience who are a little bit older [were] really taken aback by the events and clearly a bit threatened by them.”

Ryan, also bewildered by the scene, described the moment involving the older woman.

“She was a little lady, pretty frail, and he was not a small man, and I was really concerned about that, and their potential for that to escalate, where he did give her a push or something like that.”

She said the woman was “a bit horrified by the whole thing”, telling Ryan she’d been “really enjoying the event” and found it “a really worthwhile thing”.

“She was really, really angry at these gentlemen for disrupting as they did,” said Ryan.

I tried to contact the woman today, but organisers said she was too distressed to respond.

Despite the drama, Ryan said community groups should not be deterred from holding forums, something the organisers of last night’s event agreed with. Next time, they’ll book a security guard.

“We shouldn’t be silenced by right-wing nut bags,” said Ryan. “Essentially, we should continue to have these forums and enjoy the democracy that we’re so lucky to have.”