The current moment in Australian politics is revealing – not because it introduced something new, but because it exposed what has long been present and largely unacknowledged.

For many in the Australian Muslim community, the resumption of the bombing of Gaza was not simply a foreign policy issue. It became a mirror reflecting back to us our absence from the political conversation, our marginalisation in the national narrative, and the limited reach of our voice in spaces where decisions affecting us are made.

This was not the first time Australian Muslims witnessed their concerns sidelined, but it has become one of the most visible. As the community responded to the unfolding genocide, through statements, vigils, and community mobilisation, what became clear was that there is no meaningful political platform that centres our concerns, reflects our values, or even acknowledges us as a constituency worth engaging with beyond crisis or condemnation.

This is the context in which Muslim Votes Matter (MVM) emerged. Both as a protest against the system and a response to the silencing. MVM is not simply about voter turnout or civic engagement. It is about carving out a place for our voice in the political discourse of this country – asserting that we exist not only as objects of commentary, but as agents of influence. That we will no longer wait to be invited into political conversations that affect our lives, our communities, and our global commitments.

Our strategy for this federal election is simple in its logic yet deeply considered in its design. We are focusing our energy on electorates where we believe the Muslim vote — organised, informed, and principled — can be decisive. These are not just marginal seats. They are opportunities to demonstrate that when our community acts with coherence and confidence, our concerns can no longer be dismissed. This is not about ideological purity, nor about party loyalty. It is about consequence. We aim to shift the calculus so that ignoring our voice becomes politically costly.

MVM has endorsed candidates in a number of key seats across the country. In each case, that endorsement was based on a transparent process. Candidates were asked to respond to a series of policy issues grounded in community consultations and shaped by shared values – justice, equity, human dignity, and the right to dissent. Their responses are published publicly, not only to ensure transparency, but to signal that our support comes with expectations and accountability.

We are not doing this alone. MVM has brought together volunteers, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, from across the country who see the erosion of rights, the entrenchment of racism, and the betrayal of principle in our foreign policy, and who believe that a different politics is possible. This is not a religious campaign, it is a political one grounded in ethics.

On election day, MVM volunteers will be present at polling booths across all of our target electorates, distributing our how-to-vote cards and engaging with voters in a respectful and principled manner. For those outside these seats, or for those voting early, by post or at pre-poll centres, we are providing digital how-to-vote cards for all 150 federal electorates, available at www.muslimvotesmatter.com.au. Voters can bookmark this page and sign up for SMS alerts to be notified the moment their guide goes live after the AEC publishes the official ballot order.

Already, parts of our mission have been realised. We have disrupted a narrative that cast any form of Muslim political organisation as dangerous or illegitimate: a narrative pushed from both sides of the political spectrum before we even began. Today, we are no longer objects of suspicion, but subjects of political calculation. Candidates and parties now approach us, understanding that we cannot be ignored. More importantly, we have begun to reclaim our own political dignity. We have shown our community — and ourselves — that we do not need to beg for a seat at the table. We can build our own platform, speak with clarity, and act with purpose.

While this election is a critical moment, it is only the beginning. MVM is not an election campaign – it is the foundation of a long-term strategy to platform Muslim voices and demands in Australian political life. After the votes are counted, the real work begins. As a political advocacy and lobby group, we will continue to engage decision-makers, track commitments, and hold those in power accountable for the promises they make and the principles they claim to uphold. The power we are building now is not short-lived, it is meant to last.

In an environment where political speech is increasingly constrained, and where even symbolic expressions of solidarity are met with disproportionate backlash, MVM represents something both simple and powerful: a refusal to be silent, and a refusal to be spoken for. It is a reminder that politics does not belong to the few who already hold power, but to all of us who are willing to claim it.