If integrity is truly essential, why did Zoe Daniel recently assist in launching the campaign of Alex Dyson, an “independent” candidate contesting the Liberal-held seat of Wannon in regional Victoria? Endorsing someone like Alex Dyson raises questions about her commitment to upholding the values of integrity and equality.

Before entering politics, Alex Dyson was a co-host on Triple J radio, where he participated in a controversial segment involving offensive jokes about the Holocaust. The segment invited listeners to guess items associated with Adolf Hitler, culminating in a reference to wind farms meant to allude to fan ovens used by Nazis to cremate millions of Jews and other minorities after they were murdered in gas chambers. While Triple J and Dyson’s co-host issued apologies following public backlash, Alex Dyson himself never apologised.

In addition, Dyson has appeared in social media posts giving the finger to police and posing with a candle labelled “This smells like my vagina.” For someone quick to call out misogyny, this is the individual Zoe Daniel has chosen to support and pose with?

What’s striking is the willingness to overlook Dyson’s past actions and questionable moral character while repeatedly attacking Peter Dutton and the Coalition, demanding higher standards of behaviour in Parliament. If anyone in the chamber brandished a candle like Dyson’s, cries of misogyny would echo loudly to the hilltops of Canberra.

Racism, xenophobia, and misogyny are terms frequently used by the Teals, but let’s not forget Zali Steggall’s outburst at Peter Dutton when he questioned Prime Minister Albanese about allowing unvetted Gazans into Australia. While I could be digressing, it’s important to note that Zoe Daniel herself accused local Jewish residents in Goldstein of racism and xenophobia when they raised similar safety concerns about their communities. This was in response to a surge of antisemitism following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Southern Israel, which resulted in the massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 250 hostages, 101 of whom remain in Gaza. The October 7 attacks marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, something Zoe Daniel and Alex Dyson should seriously consider. These concerns are entirely justified, especially considering the violent actions of pro-Palestinian rioters, one of whom forced the evacuation of a synagogue in Caulfield, Melbourne in November 2023. What we need is action, not a statement calling out the riot. Proper action would give her an achievement she could be proud of and win her many votes.

Zoe Daniel frequently highlights her parliamentary achievements using phrases such as voted for, kept the heat on, co-hosted, and helped. Among these claims are support for real-time disclosure of political donations over $1,000 and an end to fossil fuel subsidies. However, it is strikingly ironic that someone who campaigned on climate change admitted during a community forum in her Goldstein electorate earlier this year that she voted for $2 billion in fossil fuel subsidies. She tried to justify her vote, dismissing the claim as “misinformation or manipulation of information,” only to explain later that:

“The bill was actually the cost of living relief that went through the parliament on energy prices… it compensated the energy companies for their losses.”

It’s worth noting that Zoe Daniel spent over 20 years working for the left-leaning public broadcaster, ABC. This is the same ABC that recently lost a defamation case against former Australian commander Heston Russell. The broadcaster was found to have added fabricated gunshot sounds to raw footage of a single shot fired from a helicopter in Afghanistan in an attempt to support allegations of severe war crimes. A federal court judge awarded Heston Russell $390,000 in damages.

This is the same ABC known for manipulating facts and spreading misinformation, including its coverage of the Gaza conflict. More recently, in reporting on antisemitic attacks against Israelis following a soccer match in Amsterdam, the ABC omitted key facts and footage provided by Dutch media, tailoring the narrative to align with their agenda. So serious were these attacks, the Israeli government sent several aircraft to repatriate its citizens from the Dutch capital.

When Peter Dutton announced his plan to integrate nuclear energy alongside renewables and gas, the Teals swiftly aligned with Labor and the Greens in criticising the proposal. While they claimed they would carefully consider the facts, their likely stance is no mystery. Climate 200, their largest donor, is deeply invested in renewables and unlikely to support nuclear energy, prioritising their financial interests. The Teals consistently advocate for renewable energy and the closure of gas plants but remain notably silent on the potential long-term costs or financial implications of these decisions.

Zoe Daniel’s latest newsletter, Goldstein Independent, invites readers to “join the conversation on Facebook at ‘Zoe Daniel for Goldstein.’” However, it appears that Zoe prefers her social media to showcase only supporters and those who align with her narrative, rather than fostering a genuine exchange of ideas. In June 2024, the Herald Sun reported that Zoe Daniel has a pattern of blocking constituents who ask her challenging questions. This practice has even prompted the creation of a Facebook page titled Blocked by Zoe Daniel.

For a former journalist and an MP who campaigned on integrity, blocking constituents raises serious questions about her commitment to transparency and accountability. I would echo her own words:

“How is that central to my focus every day since I have been elected?”

Zoe’s words, not mine!

The independence of the Teals comes into question when Zoe Daniel aligns with the Greens 81% of the time. Other Teal MPs show similar patterns, with Sophie Scamps at 80% on the higher end, and Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney at 74% and 73%, respectively, on the lower end. This suggests the Teals may simply be another variation of the Greens. Notably, the Teals joined Green MPs in signing a joint statement urging Labor to restore funding to UNRWA, despite substantial evidence from Israel showing that these funds support Hamas terrorism. Reports also implicate UNRWA staff in the October 7 atrocities, including the detention of Israeli hostages.

Furthermore, UNRWA’s education programs have been criticised for promoting hatred and martyrdom, further complicating peace efforts. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders have amassed $11 billion through corruption and money laundering, living in luxury in Qatar, financed by Western governments, including Australia. Where is the integrity in any of this?

What Australians truly need are MPs who provide the complete picture—not selective narratives that align with personal or political interests. We deserve representatives and a government that prioritise core values and the national interest over political gain. Suppression of speech, such as blocking constituents and avoiding accountability, undermines democracy and Integrity. Australians must speak up, demand transparency, and vote against behaviour that erodes trust and freedom of expression.