The complaint has been made under alleged unlawful racial discrimination including 'vicarious liability actions' attributed to Multicultural NSW leadership.
The AAI and PATCA, which campaigns against caste-based discrimination in South Asian communities, allege that the minister and the government body failed to address concerns about caste discrimination and Islamophobia involving the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA).
Devibala Palanivel, PATCA Executive Committee member, said “We are concerned that the Minister has refused to publicly acknowledge caste-based discrimination as a form of harm, despite recognising other forms of racism.”
Atiya Zameer, spokesperson for the Alliance Against Islamophobia, “It raises serious concerns about the systematic exclusion of South Asian Muslim voices, including the denial of representation in bodies that are intended to facilitate community consultation.”
Surinder Jain, a spokesperson for the Hindu council, said it cannot comment as it has no additional knowledge of such a complaint.
"The fact that a complaint has been made, by itself, provides no reason at all why HCA should not continue in its public role on the NSW Faith Affairs Council," Jain said.
"HCA takes that role very seriously and remains suitable to carry out that role. It respects the rights of all community groups and faiths."
He pointed out that the Council was ready and willing to participate in the conciliation process but applicant was not available which was the conciliation scheduled by the AHRC did not proceed.
"HCA was informed of this only the day before the scheduled date. HCA remains open to a conciliation process."
Jain claimed that both parties were required to maintain confidentiality.
"Mere acceptance of a complaint does not prove anything. While no finding has been made against HCA, breaking of the confidentiality is akin to trial by media. The process of responding to a false accusation can sometimes be a punishment by itself," he said.
The AHRC declined to comment, citing statutory and privacy obligations, and did not confirm whether any privacy rules had been breached.
"This includes confirming or denying whether or not a complaint has been made," the AHRC said.
The spokesperson for NSW Minister confirmed the minister is aware of the AHRC lodgement.
“The NSW government is committed to ensuring that all communities feel respected and supported, and discrimination of any kind has no place in NSW.
“Multicultural NSW has met with the organisation that made the complaint on several occasions to hear their concerns and have discussed with them at length the matters they raised.
“This matter is now before the Australian Human Rights Commission and it would be inappropriate to comment further while that process is underway. We respect the Commission’s process."
"I value and appreciate the important role played by the Hindu Council of Australia in representing and supporting Hindu Australians, and for their ongoing contribution to community harmony and interfaith engagement across the country.
Meanwhile, NSW Liberal Senator Dave Sharma expressed full confidence that the Commission will assess the complaint in accordance with the law and with established processes.
"I value and appreciate the important role played by the HCA in representing and supporting Hindu Australians, and for their ongoing contribution to community harmony and interfaith engagement across the country," Sharma said.
(Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this interview are the personal views of the individual. SBS neither agrees nor disagrees with them.)
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