Victoria’s new Labor Premier is under fire after visiting a Sikh temple in Melbourne’s west and donning a religious headscarf in order to try to win over Indian voters.
Ben Carroll, who took over from deeply unpopular predecessor Jacinta Allan last month, visited the temple in Hoppers Crossing on Thursday along with fellow Labor MP Sarah Connolly.
Mr Carroll and Ms Connolly shared images and videos of themselves at the temple which showed them both dressed up in Sikh apparel, walking barefoot, and taking part in what appeared to be a cooking demonstration.
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“We have a strong Sikh community in Tarneit and they do so much for the local community. Today they welcomed me to Gurdwara Hoppers Crossing for a tour of their temple,” Mr Carroll wrote.
“A place of worship – but also a place to connect with friends and come together with community. Thanks for making Victoria stronger and thank you for having me.”
But many Aussies responded to the visit by saying they were going to vote One Nation, and expressing their unhappiness at Mr Carroll’s pandering to ethnic and religious minorities.
“Sucking up for votes,” one wrote.
“The Anzacs would be ashamed, they didn’t die for their children to be replaced with the third world,” said another.
“More ethnic pandering. What a disgraceful display,” said a third commenter on Instagram, while a fourth said “Yep that’s the Labor way… chasing votes from immigrants”.
The visit comes amid a multiculturalism funding blitz by Mr Carroll’s government, including $600,000 in taxpayer funding for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, $1.15 million for immigrant and indigenous groups for anti-racism initiatives, $19 million to attract more foreign students, $5 million to minority groups to defend diversity, and $6 million for multicultural organisations to increase security.
Header image: Left, Mr Carroll during the visit. Right, Mr Carroll and Ms Connolly at the temple (Instagram).
