“This is only possible because Australia is so open and so welcoming to the contributions of people like my parents, who I was thinking about a lot as I took my oath earlier today.”
— Daniel Mookhey
Indian-origin Daniel Mookhey said he was “incredibly honoured and humbled to be the first Australian Minister, state or federally, to take my oath of allegiance on the Bhagavad Gita”. Mookhey became the first politician of Indian-origin to become the Treasurer in any Australian state as he took his oath of allegiance on the Bhagavad Gita.
He was sworn in along with New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns and six other ministers, The Australia Today reported. New South Wales’ new parliament will also have the maximum number of Indian-origin members. These include: Daniel Mookhey, Charishma Kaliyanda, Gurmesh Singh and Deputy Premier Pru Car.
Mookhey’s parents migrated from Punjab to Australia in 1973. He holds three university degrees and has previously worked as a consultant.
“Sworn in as Treasurer of the great state of NSW. Thank you to the people of NSW who entrusted us with this honour and privilege,” Mookhey (39) said in a statement. He also said, “This is only possible because Australia is so open and so welcoming to the contributions of people like my parents, who I was thinking about a lot as I took my oath earlier today.”
Mookhey was elected by the Labour to replace Steve Whan in the New South Wales upper in 2015 with which he had then become the state’s first politician of Indian background. Then also, he had taken the oath on the Bhagavad Gita. Mookhey’s parents migrated from Punjab to Australia in 1973. He holds three university degrees and has previously worked as a consultant.
**********************************************************
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