Tonight, the Cessnock Independents will host Joey Jammal, a far-right figure with connections to Craig Kelly and Ricardo Bossi of the Australia One Party, at the ECBC in Cessnock. Jammal, a Syrian Christian known for promoting COVID-19 and 5G conspiracy theories, is expected to deliver a provocative speech.
The decision to invite Jammal has raised questions about the political leanings of this year’s Independent candidates. The Cessnock Independents have centered their campaign on opposing the four-lane upgrade of Wollombi Road, a project initially approved by an Independent council over a decade ago. Current Independent council members, including Ian Olsen, Jessica Jurd, and Mayoral candidate Daniel Watton, oppose the upgrade.
CR Jessica Jurd, previously accused of ties to the anti-vaccine group My Place, denies these allegations but is known for her opposition to digital IDs, 15-minute cities, and government overreach. Another candidate, Quintin King, a coal miner and former One Nation Party candidate, opposes renewable energy projects and has been vocal about the Wollombi Road issue.
Sue Dixon, another Independent candidate, recently promoted far-right figure Monica Smit, who was arrested during Melbourne’s lockdowns for inciting violence and spent 22 days in prison. Mayoral candidate CR Dan Watton, known for his community work through his Kingdom Food Care shop in Weston, is seen as a compassionate candidate with broad appeal.
These candidates, with their strong right-leaning views, are positioning themselves against the left-wing dominance in Cessnock.
