‘Enraged’ union boss defends naming and shaming Victorian Labor MPs who had ‘zero conversations’ with voters | Victorian politics

The chairman of Victoria’s powerful Trades Hall Council has defended naming and shaming 23 state Labor MPs and candidates who have had “zero conversations” with their constituents in the past two weeks, saying they should all “get off their asses” to stop the rise of One Nation.

Luke Hilakari wrote to MPs and candidates on Tuesday morning, warning they should not expect support from the union movement during the November election campaign if they “don’t care about winning”.

As One Nation’s popularity grows, Hilakari said the union movement is planning its “biggest election campaign ever” and wants to identify which MPs and candidates are actively campaigning to decide where to focus its efforts.

“I was frankly outraged to learn that 23 MPs or candidates had ZERO conversations with voters in the last two weeks,” Hilakari wrote in an email with the subject heading: “Concerned MPs should not expect any support.”

Those named include ministers Steve Dimopoulos, Sonya Kilkenny, Nick Staikos, Ros Spence and Natalie Suleyman, as well as backbenchers and candidates in marginal seats.

Data reported by Labor Party headquarters on a fortnightly basis since mid-2025 showed the prime minister knocked on 86 doors and spoke to 32 voters, while deputy prime minister Ben Carroll knocked on 35 doors and had 11 conversations with voters.

Sarah McKenzie, who wants to retake the seat of Richmond from the Greens, made 270 calls to voters; This figure is higher than other candidates. He was followed by Sydenham candidate Uros Rasic, who conducted 180 interviews, and Clarinda MP Meng Heang Tak, who spoke to 159 voters.

Hilakari said that if MPs do not remove contact with voters within the next two weeks, he will recommend to the executive council that “no campaign action be taken in their seats”. He said that if he were a member of Labour’s executive committee, he would also recommend that marginal seat support be removed if candidates were eligible.

“We have thousands of union members who are ready to take time out with their families, join street stalls, knock on doors and make phone calls after work, because they understand how disastrous a One Nation-Coalition government will be for the wages, conditions and quality of life of working Victorians,” Hilkari said.

“They have a right to expect the same commitment from you. The message is simple: start campaigning or start rallying.”

Premier Jacinta Allan defended the Labor team on Wednesday and said data was not the only way to measure community engagement.

“There are forums, there are meetings, there are community events, there are mobile office works. All of these are not included in this data set, but it is all about community engagement,” the Prime Minister told reporters.

“I know everyone in the Labor team, whose leadership I am proud to lead, is working incredibly hard.”

Kilkenny, who has had zero conversations with voters in the past fortnight, said all Labor MPs were “focused on Victorians” and this could be shown in a number of ways, including his work as attorney general.

“Whether that’s through phone banking, door-knocking, attending community events, meeting with constituents, maintaining mobile offices, or drafting new legislation like the one we’re introducing today,” he said.

Hilakari told Guardian Australia on Wednesday that he had heard from more than a dozen Labor MPs who were pleased with his intervention and “bothered by the advancers”. He said a “small number” of the 23 people named had contacted him and that their concerns could have been raised “more quietly”.

“But we exceeded that period. Silent talks were held, they were not listened to, and there are five months left until the election,” he said.

“Every MP should be working their ass off right now to ensure Pauline Hanson and One Nation do not become the majority party in Victoria.”

Latest polls have shown One Nation gaining ground in Victoria, while Labor’s primaries have fallen into the low 20s.