MELBOURNE , 30 March, 2025: During a recent visit to the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple and Cultural Precinct and to meet their Guru ‘His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’, leader of opposition Peter Dutton announced the setting up of the first faith-based Hindu school with a pledge to spend $8.5 million on the proposed project, if the coalition comes to power. The project, will be done through The Hindu Council of Australia, which has welcomed the announcement.
Peter Dutton’s support for a Hindu school came, following earlier support from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, for the establishment of ‘Australia’s first Hindu School’ in Western Sydney. The backing for a ‘Hindu school’ by both Labor and Coalition preceded the upcoming May 3, federal election announcement by PM Anthony Albanese.
The battle to get votes from this big segment within the 700,000 Indian-origin fast growing community had begun. But it has ignited a debate as to the role of Hindu organisations or which is the representative Hindu body, cultural or minority identity, diversity within the faith, caste oppression, rise of religion politics and its spill-over in the diasporic communities, and as to what are ‘Hindu-values’.
A rather complex set of issues which need explanation in secular Australia, with no official religion and the government constitutionally prohibited from establishing or promoting any religion. This emanates from Section 116 of the Australian Constitution which prohibits the Commonwealth government from establishing any religion, imposing any religious observance, or prohibiting the free exercise of any religion.
Australia’s secularism is reflected in its laws and policies, which aim to ensure equal treatment and rights for all, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof.
The coalition announcement is part of the coalition’s reiterated support for ‘faith-based education’, which actually means if there can be faith-based schools of Catholics, Muslims or others, then why not a faith-based Hindu school. “The Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Jason Wood MP, said the school would follow a model similar to other faith-based institutions, delivering a curriculum that integrates Hindu values alongside the Australian curriculum,” a joint media release by Peter Dutton, Sarah Henderson, Shadow Minister for Education, and Jason Wood, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services, and Multicultural Affairs.
The media release says, “The funding will be provided to the Hindu Council of Australia with an initial investment of up to $850,000 for a business case to appropriately assess feasibility, costs, location, benefits and risks to ensure the location of the school, regulation and planning processes get the backing they need. A further $7.65 million will be set aside for capital expenditure once the business case is successfully completed.
An elected Dutton Coalition Government looks forward to working with the Hindu Council of Australia to ensure this groundbreaking project comes to fruition.”
Gurpreet Gary Verma, Secretary Hindu Council of Australia (Victoria) welcoming the Hindu school promise feels in a podcast in SBS Punjabi, ” We will provide children with a safe environment where children can openly learn about their culture and religion.” (Quote translated from Punjabi text through Deep Seek)
Harpreet Singh Kandra, academic and community volunteer says, “In multicultural Australia, I would prefer to send my kids to a school where they co-learn with students of diverse backgrounds. This will help them build several skills, including ability to choose better practices from each culture/ faith.”
Dr. Noel Nadesan, writer & journalist talking to SAT said, ” A faith-based school will increase sectarian tendencies which are so much entrenched in South Asia. Faith should be celebrated at home or at the community level.”
But Dr. Raju Adhikari, President Astha Nepali Hindu Society Victoria- Sri PashupatiNath says, ” Bipartisan support for the Hindu school is a welcome initiative. It will help enrich Australian education values with the principles of respect, inclusivity, diversity, integrity, and excellence—while fostering multicultural awareness and character development.”
Meanwhile, Hindus for Human Rights ANZ in a statement emailed to South Asia Times (SAT) says, ” The proposed Hindu school presents an opportunity to enrich Australia’s multicultural fabric, however without proper safeguards, it may deepen divisions within the diaspora and beyond. Only transparency, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to Australian values can ensure this project serves all—rather than advancing political expediency or sectarian interests.”
It further says:
“In order to ensure that the community which the school is meant to serve is adequately represented in all its internal diversity, our recommendations are as follows:
- Establishing an inclusive consultative body that includes organisations such as Hindus for Human Rights, Australia and New Zealand, who bring a track record in advocating for an inclusive, humanistic Hindu faith that stands against all discrimination and bigotry.
- Appointing an independent curriculum specialist who undertakes extensive consultations with representatives from minority and caste oppressed diasporic communities to deepen their understanding of intra community dynamics and historical perspectives, with a view to developing a balanced and fact-based curriculum.
- Expanding faith leadership to include Hindu spiritual leaders who reject caste discrimination and advocate for progressive interpretations of scripture.
- Community engagement and anti-racism initiatives to counter misinformation and address concerns among non-Indian Australians, and also to take action against those indulging in digital vilification and hate speech on social media platforms.”
Both Labor and Coalition are committed to fund a faith-based Hindu school. At the onset it is like any other election promise. But it’s implications are far reaching for a community which itself is diverse and often influenced by ideologies and happenings not happening in Australia. Mainstream Australia itself has been debating the issue of faith-based schools, with the secular lobby vocally against them. In the 2021 Australian census, 38.9 % of population reported having “no religion”, making it the second-largest group group after Christians (43.9%), reflecting a trend toward secularization in Australia.
In fact, there already are Hindu faith or Hindu-inspired schools in Australia, just like faith-based schools of other faiths. Multicultural communities are grappling with issues that are common to all Australians, with some specific focussed issues that affect them. Inclusivity and the ethos of this multicultural country are essential in any policy implemented concerning any community or faith. Acceptable definitions of ‘Hindu Values’, ‘Australian values’ or any other values need to fit in Australia’s secular ethos.
