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February 5, 2026 — 7:30pm
The relationship between the Victorian Liberal Party and the state’s Muslim leadership has descended into legal warnings and the withdrawal of an invitation to this Saturday’s Open Mosque Day following a number of condolence speeches given in parliament this week.
The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) had previously invited opposition multicultural affairs spokesman Evan Mulholland to speak at the launch of the celebration, which encourages Victorians to engage with their Muslim neighbours to deepen understanding and mutual respect.
However, the invitation was withdrawn by council president Mohamed Mohideen on Wednesday, in a letter seen by this masthead, over the content of condolence speeches Liberal MPs made this week in response to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
The Islamic Council of Victoria drew attention to the comments of Mulholland, Matthew Guy and, in particular, Renee Heath.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Mulholland said his multicultural community was made up of fantastic citizens. “But as members of parliament, it is our duty to know where the line is,” he said.
He called out a sheikh, without naming him, whose centre has received state government grants, for professing that Zionists were not human and were “bloodsuckers”.
“Tragedies like this do not happen out of nowhere. They begin with hateful bile like this. The Liberals and Nationals know where the line is, and you will never see us associating with so-called leaders who have spewed such hatred and, I would say, incitement about our Jewish community here in this state.”
Mulholland – who represents the diverse northern suburbs in the upper house – said his record of engagement with the Muslim community spoke for itself, “having attended countless events, iftar dinners and advocacy on behalf of Muslim Victorians”.
“Victoria, rightly, is a place where people of all faiths can and do worship freely,” Mulholland said in a statement to this masthead. “But incitement to harm is not worship, it is hate speech, and I know my many friends in the Muslim community agree.”
In response to questions from this masthead, Mohideen said: “Anti-Muslim hate is on the rise. We expect better from our politicians and leaders.”
On Wednesday, the council posted and then deleted a public statement that accused Mulholland, Guy and Heath of Islamophobia and of blaming all Muslims for the massacre that killed 15 people celebrating Hanukkah on December 14.
Three sources told this masthead that Mulholland and Guy viewed the Islamic Council of Victoria statement as defamatory and that this had been conveyed to the council, which then deleted the statement.
Disinviting Mulholland, who has worked closely with the broader Muslim community and retains connections, from Saturday’s event represents a significant breakdown in relations.
The ICV statement, since deleted, said Muslim people were being treated as sources of suspicion, that protests were being mischaracterised and that public mourning of the Bondi tragedy should seek to unite communities.
Guy, in his condolence speech, told the parliament that radical Islamic terrorism was responsible for the Bondi attack, which the Australian Federal Police has publicly said was likely inspired by the Islamic State group.
He listed a spate of antisemitic incidents and included the federal government’s recognition of Palestine, a step taken with allies, and the huge protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge last August.
“Excuses were made when politicians could not even use the word antisemitism without adding in Islamophobia,” Guy said.
He repeated claims that in the days after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack, protesters chanted “Death to Jews” at the Sydney Opera House. NSW Police have said there was no evidence “Gas the Jews” or the like was chanted, but that offensive comments were made.
Heath also repeated this claim and criticised protesters who have called for the abolition of Israel, while celebrating Ahmed al Ahmed, who tackled and disarmed one of the Bondi gunmen.
She went on to claim, without evidence and using parliamentary privilege, that Islamic Council of Victoria president Mohideen had praised Hamas after October 7 and the Iranian regime killing its citizens.
Heath claimed that Mohideen was responsible for Islamophobia by “failing to draw a line between good, peace-loving Muslims that are here to contribute to this society and groups like Hamas and the Iranian regime”.
The Islamic Council of Victoria, in its since-deleted statement, said Heath’s comments were particularly concerning. The council said parliamentary privilege came with responsibilities.
Mohideen has previously endured calls for the government to remove him as one of 12 Victorian multicultural commissioners over anti-Israel social media posts.
Guy and Heath were contacted by The Age for comment.
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