MELBOURNE, 7-8 November 2026: Labor and Liberal politicians flooded Blackburn Sikh Temple and other gurdwaras and temples over the two-day Bandi Chhor Divas celebrations, as Victoria’s November 28 election campaign intensifies.
With One Nation surging on an anti-migration platform, the race to win multicultural electorates is now front and centre.
Premier Ben Carroll drew attention after baking rotis at Keysborough Sikh Temple. Visits to Hindu and Sikh temples, including Durga Temple in Rockbank, have also made headlines.
Over both days at Blackburn Sikh Temple, devotees attending a special Kirtan Sanagam heard Labor and Liberal candidates introduce themselves and pitch funding pledges if elected. The contest to announce grants has intensified as Labor seeks a fourth term and faces pressure from One Nation.
Labor representatives at Blackburn included: Rachel Rouget, candidate for Ringwood; Gabriel Ng, Federal MP for Menzies; Matt Gregg, Federal MP for Deakin; and Paul Hammer.
Liberal representatives included: Deputy Leader David Southwick; Leader of the Opposition Brad Battin; Shadow Minister for Industry; Box Hill candidate Jacky Sun; and Glen Waverley candidate Sally Houget.
At the recent Diwali@Federation Square event, an anti-migration group staged a protest. The group has held similar protests during the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and at Parliament House.
Pledges to protect multicultural communities and support multiculturalism — backed by promises of multi-million-dollar grants for security upgrades — have dominated discussion. How much weight those offers carry with multicultural voters remains to be seen.
While many community members welcome government support, critics argue some faith institutions already receive large donations. They say priorities extend beyond places of worship.
Grants to religious organisations are not new. Previous Coalition and Labor governments have provided them, and many community and faith events rely on state funding to go ahead.
Questions persist over how grant amounts are decided and which faiths are chosen. One Buddhist community member, speaking anonymously, said their temples had been overlooked. In a tight election, numbers may matter.
Harpreet Singh, senior academic and gurdwara volunteer, supports the role of government grants.
“Places of worship are often the first door into Australian life. They provide friendship, guidance and support that government services alone cannot match,” he told SAT.
“A government dollar goes further in faith communities. Volunteer labour and donated resources mean public funding acts as a catalyst, not a handout.
During COVID-19 and natural disasters, faith communities reached people government channels couldn’t. Investing in them is investing in community resilience.
We fund sporting clubs and neighbourhood centres for their public benefit. If places of worship deliver the same outcomes in health, wellbeing and inclusion, they should be eligible too.
”Both Labor and Liberal have condemned alleged vandalism at the SMVS Swaminarayan Temple in Tarneit on Sunday, 7 November 2026 — one week before Diwali. The temple, which previously had its electricity cut, received a $200,000 security grant from Labor days earlier. A police complaint has been lodged.
The Knox Crime Investigation Unit is also probing the theft of a Mahatma Gandhi statue from the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville on 12 January. The centre previously received a federal grant during Scott Morrison’s prime ministership. Sources say the investigation may close soon.
With multiple cases of vandalism and theft at temples going unsolved or unreported, the question is whether bipartisan grant announcements will help, or if a boost in police numbers will be the real game changer.
