Liberal National Party Senator for Queensland Paul Scarr has visited the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia, showing solidarity with Victoria’s Indian community after the temple was defaced in a racist graffiti attack last month. Senator Scarr, who is also the Shadow Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, said the temple was his first stop after the two-week sitting of Parliament.
“At times like this, it is vital to show support and solidarity. An attack on one community is an attack on all of us,” he said. “The community is showing great resilience following the attack and I was moved by how the local community and people of all faiths have wrapped their arms around the congregation at the temple.”
The graffiti incident at the Boronia temple is part of a troubling rise in community-targeted crimes across Victoria. Just weeks earlier, a man was violently attacked with a machete in broad daylight at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows. That incident prompted public outrage, a call for tougher penalties, and a new machete amnesty announced by the Victorian Government.
The Opposition has continued to pressure the government despite recent changes to Victoria’s bail laws. Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin, who visited the temple alongside Senator Scarr, has previously told The Indian Sun that mandatory jail time should apply to those who breach bail, especially repeat offenders. “People are gaming the system,” he said. “Repeat offenders know there are no real consequences.”
In the aftermath of the Boronia temple incident, members of Victoria’s Indian community and broader multicultural groups have spoken out about the need for unity and stronger responses to hate-fuelled behaviour. While police continue their investigation into the graffiti, temple leaders have kept their doors open and remained focused on their charitable and spiritual work.
Senator Scarr said he was particularly inspired by the congregation’s ongoing efforts to help those in need. He praised their resilience and community spirit, adding that their charitable work “reflects the best of what Australia stands for”.
His visit comes at a time when the national conversation around community safety, hate crime and cultural inclusion is growing louder, with both sides of politics acknowledging that more must be done to keep multicultural communities safe and respected.
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