Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) recognises that 2019 marks the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, with his birth being celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Kartik Pooranmashi, the full-moon day in the month of Katak, October-November;

(2) joins with all Sikhs in Australia to acknowledge this significant anniversary; and

(3) notes:

(a) that the Sikh community forms an important and growing segment of our community, with the Sikh faith being one of the emerging religions in Australia; and

(b) the contribution that the growing Sikh community makes to our multicultural nation through its commitment to Guru Nanak's teachings of selfless service and social justice.

Waheguru ji ka khalsa waheguru ji ki fateh. In this year of 2019, we join our Sikh community in Australia to pay tribute to the founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, on the 550th anniversary of his birth. On this auspicious occasion, it's also worth reflecting on the integral role the Sikh community have played in developing Australia's national identity. In fact, though Sikhism nowadays might be seen as part of a global religious diversity, it was not always the case. The story of Sikhism in our modern world is one of tenacity, zeal and commitment, taking its lead from the divine inspiration of Guru Nanak. From its very founding, this group of people have shown a revolutionary spirit that has preached equality of all humankind.

When it was established back in the 15th century by Guru Nanak, Sikhism was unique in the social, political and gender equality it expounded. Through his teachings and practice, the guru espoused that all humankind is unified under the divine teachings of God, famously saying that there is no Muslim and there is no Hindu. That was at a time when religious conflict was rife between Hindus and Muslims. The spiritualism of equality and unity was an appealing but radical prospect for many people. It takes a person of great conviction, belief and a keen sense of justice to have the courage to go against the grain and preach this world view. That is why Guru Nanak was a progressive well ahead of his time. He believed in gender equality and he refused to wear the thread of caste, arguing that caste should not be used as a means of judging a person. He believed in living as a participant in society, rather than outside of it.

Nowadays Sikhs do not adhere to the word of any living man but they adhere to the holy scripture developed by the 10 gurus from 1469 to 1708. Across this time, the key tenets of selflessness, earning an honest living and naam japna, which means 'meditating on God's name', were stressed as the most important aspects of Sikhism. The gurus also taught that disciples should strive to develop God's consciousness and carry out God's will on earth. That is why, from the earliest days, Sikhs preached and practised the principles of equality, freedom and justice at considerable risk to their own lives.

Without a doubt, these are the reasons why Sikhism has found such a welcoming home in Australia. The very principles of equality and justice that embody Australia's identity are also key to the Sikh faith. Perhaps they were even developed together, because the first Sikhs came to Australia from Punjab in the 19th century, mainly as labourers in the cane fields of Queensland. It's no secret that these early arrivals faced substantial discrimination, including harsh conditions on plantations as labourers. Open discrimination and violence was a theme of the White Australia policy, which stifled the potential of this community and ensured it remained a tiny proportion of the overall population.

Yet, despite the unfortunate past, Sikhs have a long and proud history of engagement with Australia. The British Sikh Regiment fought side by side with the Aussies at Gallipoli, earning Australia's deep respect. It wasn't just in this battle where Sikhs showed their strength; they fought with us in the battle of Malaya, the Battle of Singapore and other hostilities. Nowadays Sikhs serve as members of the ADF, the police and the emergency services without having to compromise any article of their faith or religious beliefs.

On a local level Sikhs have contributed to our community in deep and enduring ways. One interesting example is a gravesite in my home town of Whittlesea, commemorating the death in 1873 of a Sikh merchant killed by a horse in a shoeing accident. These historical insights are dotted around the electorate and speak to the layered history of Sikhs there.

Another example of engagement is the AFL Hume Bombers Football Club, started by my friend Avtar Singh. As a Carlton supporter, it pains me to support Essendon, but what they've been doing has been absolutely sensational. This is a club for Sikh kids that's gone from strength to strength with equal gender opportunity at its core. One of the young players Divjot Singh even got the opportunity to toss the coin at the Essendon-Western Bulldogs game at Marvel Stadium recently.

I'm proud that my home state of Victoria houses the highest proportion of Sikhs in any state or territory, standing 53,000 inhabitants. Indeed, recently, we had the privilege of hosting a delegation of Sikhs from the electorate of McEwen to Parliament House to celebrate this. Headed by Mr Avtar Singh, this group representing the Australian Multicultural Foundation was a true cross-section of society. There were antique furniture restorers, trucking business owners and healthcare professionals just to name a few. It warmed my heart to see the integration of Sikh communities into Australian society, and I sincerely hope this process continues. It's only right that, after the Sikhs have contributed so much to the strength and diversity of our nation, we celebrate the very man, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who began this important religion.

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