Australia’s NSW Parliament raises questions about Hindu Council’s nomination to NSW faith body

The NSW Faith Affairs Council, formed in November 2022, is intended to serve as a consultative body providing advice on government policy impacts on faith communities, emerging trends, and fostering community harmony, security, and well-being

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Australia’s NSW Parliament has recently raised concerns about the nomination of the Hindu Council of Australia to the newly formed NSW Faith Affairs Council. Abigail Boyd, a Member of the Legislative Council from the NSW Greens, has submitted a series of ‘questions on notice’ directed at the NSW Treasurer, who represents various portfolios, including Small Business, Lands and Property, Multiculturalism, and Sport.

Boyd’s inquiries delve into potential issues regarding the Hindu Council of Australia, asking whether the Treasurer is aware of any evidence indicating the Council’s involvement in religious vilification, caste discrimination, and social discord. These questions were raised in response to a nomination that designates Surinder Jain from the Hindu Council as the representative for the Hindu faith, also nominated as the co-chair of the council.

The NSW Faith Affairs Council, formed in November 2022, is intended to serve as a consultative body providing advice on government policy impacts on faith communities, emerging trends, and fostering community harmony, security, and well-being. The council includes representatives from various faith communities, such as Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, and Christian denominations.

Boyd suggests that such inaction might embolden the Council to persist in vilifying Sikh and Muslim communities, perpetuating caste discrimination, and contributing to targeted hate crimes

Boyd’s questions highlight concerns raised by the Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia (PATCA), which documented alleged incidents of religious vilification, caste discrimination, and social discord by the Hindu Council of Australia. The questions directly ask whether the reported activities of the Council contradict the essential criteria for nomination to the NSW Faith Council, as outlined on the government website, and violate the Multicultural Principles of the Multicultural NSW Act 2000.

Furthermore, Boyd inquires about the reasons behind nominating the Hindu Council over other Hindu organizations for the NSW Faith Council and whether the Minister is aware of community leaders’ concerns. These concerns revolve around the potential repercussions if no action is taken to address the alleged vilification and discriminatory activities of the Hindu Council. Boyd suggests that such inaction might embolden the Council to persist in vilifying Sikh and Muslim communities, perpetuating caste discrimination, and contributing to targeted hate crimes.

The questions were formally submitted on December 13, 2023, just before the state parliament closed for the summer break. The Minister is expected to provide answers to these inquiries by January 17, 2024. The outcome of these inquiries may have implications for the representation of the Hindu faith on the NSW Faith Affairs Council and the broader dynamics of interfaith cooperation within the state.

************************************************************************

Readers

These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.

Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world.  We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.

Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.

In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.

For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com