Mornington Peninsula | STPL News
With less than 48 hours until polls open for the 2025 federal election, independent Flinders candidate Ben Smith is under scrutiny following a report in The Australian linking his campaign to several pro-Palestinian activists, some of whom have engaged in controversial political actions and statements regarding Israel.
Smith, who is backed by Simon Holmes à Court’s Climate 200, is reportedly working with campaign staffers including Climate 200’s creative strategist Sean Marsh and activist Alex Broers. Both figures have previously made strong public comments on the Israel–Palestine conflict. Marsh has posted on social media calling for a boycott of Israeli businesses and urging political pressure from local MPs. In response, Climate 200 issued a statement distancing itself from Marsh’s personal views, stating they “do not reflect the views of Climate 200.”
Broers, another campaign figure identified in the article, was involved in a protest at the Darwin office of defence contractor Thales in December 2024. The protest targeted Thales’ alleged links to Israeli weapons companies. Images published by The Australian show Broers holding placards referencing Gaza and drone warfare.
The article also references former Flinders candidate Sarah Russell, who described Smith as a “stellar” candidate and acknowledged her own involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on the Mornington Peninsula. Russell has reportedly supported Smith since Climate 200 awarded him an “accelerator grant” in 2024.
Liberal incumbent Zoe McKenzie criticised the campaign, alleging “outside forces” were dominating the contest in Flinders.
“It’s not just the financial muscle… the people on the ground are dominated by outsiders,”
McKenzie said, warning of influence from Climate 200’s national network. McKenzie currently holds the seat with a 6.2 per cent margin from the 2022 election.
Further controversy erupted after One Nation candidate Mike Brown accused Broers of confronting him in a heated exchange last week. Brown alleged he was intimidated and forced to call police after being repeatedly asked why he was “racist.”
Smith, who serves as CEO of the Mornington Community Support Centre and was named Victorian Father of the Year in 2024, has not made a public comment on the claims. With the campaign now entering its final hours, all eyes will be on whether this late controversy impacts the outcome.
