Victoria’s left-wing Labor government has promised to give Hindu and Sikh temples more than $11 million in funding for safety and infrastructure upgrades if it wins this month’s state election.
Premier Ben Carroll, who is trailing the Coalition in the polls, made the pledge while visiting the Sri Durga Temple in Deanside in Melbourne’s west on Sunday.
The proposed Temple and Gurdwara Safety Fund would cover fencing, maintenance, renovation works and carparks, with the first $1 million set to go to the Hindu temple that hosted the premier’s visit, The Australia Today reported.
“We are proud to stand with Victoria’s Indian and South Asian communities and the safety and security of their families,” Mr Carroll said while making the funding pledge.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Paul Edbrooke said Labor would “help all communities across Victoria feel safe and secure, with practical funds for safety upgrades”.
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Opposition leader Jess Wilson visited the same temple on the weekend where she met Hindu community leaders and made ritual offerings to a Hindu idol.
Labor’s $11 million pledge comes after it promised a different Hindu temple, the Kali Mata Mandir in Craigieburn, $500,000 for kitchen upgrades, and a share of $100,000 for food relief programs.
The Liberals responded a week later by promising the temple $600,000 during a visit by MP Evan Mulholland, who joined attendees in singing a Hindu devotional chant.
Victorians go to the polls on November 28, and according to a Roy Morgan poll published on Friday the Liberal-National Coalition has a large lead over Labor.
The poll had the Coalition on 29.5% of the primary vote, followed by Labor on 22.5%, One Nation on 22%, and the Greens on 12.5%.
On a two-party preferred basis the Coalition is ahead of Labor 56% to 44%, and ahead of One Nation 74% to 29%, while Labor leads One Nation 54.5% to 45.5%.
Header image: Left, Ben Carroll at the temple (Sri Durga temple). Right, Jess Wilson during her visit (The Australia Today).
