Australia Today [30/1/23]
Ethnic conflict in Melbourne, Voice to Parliament campaign date set, NSW Labor pledges more towards education
Indian Diaspora Tensions Erupt into Street Brawl
On Sunday Afternoon, two Indian ethnic groups with longstanding rivalries began brawling outside of Federation Square - the two opposing groups were protesting regarding a referendum “on the creation of an independent Sikh state”. The altercation began at 4:30pm, though an earlier scuffle between the same groups had broken out earlier around 12.30pm.
The Sikh group was recorded initiating the violence; charging at the pro-Hindu group with cries of “Death to India”. The primary weapons involved were flagpoles though witnesses claim there was at least one Sikh man wielding a sword. One man who tripped over tram lines was immediately attacked with Sikh flags. Police deployed pepper spray to disperse the fighting men.
According to police, two men were arrested (ages 34 and 39) and issued with penalty notices “for riotous behaviour”.
Two men received what are believed to be minor injuries, one with a head laceration, another with a hand injury. Both were treated in an ambulance at the scene.
Tensions between the two communities have been noted to be growing.
The Age noted that both Sikhs and Hindu are a growing population in Australia.
Sources: The Age, The Daily Mail, News.com.au
Voice to Parliament Campaign Date Set
The Indigenous Voice to parliament campaign set to launch on February 20th. So far, campaign tactics we are aware of include “door-knocks, letter-box drops, street stalls and online advertisements.” Primarily the campaigns aims are to “answer the ‘detail’ question” and convince Australians “that the Voice is the consensus view of Indigenous Australians.”
According to The SMH: “The referendum will be held as early as August, although a date in September or October is firming as a more likely option, according to government sources.”
Sources: The Sydney Morning Herald
NSW Labor pledges $400m towards education
NSW Labor has promised to “establish a $400 million education fund to better meet the Gonski school funding model if elected in March.”
NSW Labor party “says its proposed Future Education Fund will ensure the state puts in 75 per cent of the School Resource Standard by 2025, which is two years earlier than what the Coalition has planned.”
“The $400m program would be used to hire more teachers, school counsellors and establish the tutoring program, which would run in primary and high schools, but have an initial focus on the 2023 Year 10 cohort”
Labor leader Chris Minns also appears to be putting emphasis on reducing device usage in the classroom.
Sources: The ABC, The Guardian
Greens Party Leader criticises PM Albanese for allowing new coal and gas mines
“Adam Bandt has accused Labor of “gaslighting” and “greenwashing” for allowing new coal and gas mines to offset emissions in its upgraded safeguards mechanism.”
“Bandt complains the policy allows new coal and gas mines because all “big corporations have to do is buy a few tree-planting permits”.
Sources: The Guardian
NSW Coalition pledges feasibility study for specialist domestic violence courts
The New South Wales Coalition will consider establishing standalone domestic violence courts, which Labor says are almost a decade overdue.
As both major parties ratchet up support for victims ahead of the March poll, the Perrottet government on Sunday announced it would create a specialist “family violence list” in three local courts to manage cases faster.
Sources: The Sydney Morning Herald