Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been slammed for pandering to Indian voters after turning up at a sprawling new Hindu temple complex in Sydney’s west to celebrate the foreign festival of Holi.
Mr Albanese was joined by embattled energy minister Chris Bowen and failed misinformation bill architect Michelle Rowland, at the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Kemps Creek on Saturday night, where they posed under a 15-metre metal statue of religious figure Neelkanth Varni.
The Hindu idol was unveiled last week, with Mr Bowen and Ms Rowland in attendance along with three NSW Liberal MPs, and is the tallest metal statue in Australia. It is part of a $41 million “cultural precinct” constructed by global Hindu group BAPS which covers an area of land the size of 41 football fields.
Happy Holi! pic.twitter.com/7DLxjoqscr
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 15, 2025
The temple complex on opening day (Western Sydney Tourism Taskforce – Facebook)
Mr Albanese posted a video of himself at the temple titled “Happy Holi”, while Mr Bowen shared photos of the Prime Minister clasping his hands together in prayer while wearing a Hindi flower garland next to education minister Jason Clare.
Mr Clare later revealed that the Prime Minister promised Labor would support the establishment of Australia’s first Hindi school at the site.
But many Aussies objected to the display, and accused Mr Albanese, who has signed controversial migration and trade deals with India, of pandering to Indian immigrants.
“You only celebrate this day to appease the millions of Indians your party has flooded Australia with, just so they might continue to vote for you and sustain the ongoing Indian invasion of Australia,” wrote TikToker Auspill on X.
“Why do you have to do this? The country has so many problems today but you have time on your calendar for things that will not help people suffering from the cost of living crisis your government created!” said another disgruntled Australian.
“You’ll celebrate anything except Australia Day,” said a third.
United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet responded by saying: “You will never catch me pandering to minorities for votes.
“You will however catch me advocating for and promoting Australian culture. If you choose to live in Australia, embrace Australian culture, or don’t come at all.
“Migrating here only to recreate the conditions of the country you left behind is not acceptable. This is a Christian country with European roots, adapt and assimilate.”
However, the Prime Minister’s post attracted an overwhelmingly positive response from Indians, many of whom simply responded “Happy Holi”.
NSW Liberal MPs Jordan Lane, Mark Speakman and Mark Coure at the statue unveiling (Facebook)
Opposition leader Peter Dutton was also criticised by voters after making a Holi post of his own on Friday, stating “Australia is the greatest country in the world, in no small part because of important traditions like Holi that strengthen our nation and bring communities together”.
“When did we ever vote on letting millions of Indians invade our country, Dutton? You’re obviously just another globalist shill who hasn’t got a clue to what Australians actually care about at the moment. Close the borders, we want our country back!” read one popular response.
“You’re still at it. We are becoming mini India. It’s a frigging invasion. Just stop it please,” said another.
Wishing all Australians of Hindu faith, and everyone joining in the celebrations, a happy and colourful Holi.
To our Australian Indian community – thank you for your many contributions in art, business, values, and culture, which make our nation better.— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) March 14, 2025
Since winning the 2022 federal election Mr Albanese has overseen the arrival of a about 1.5 million immigrants into Australia – with India being the largest source country – pushing the Indian-born population to an estimated 1 million.
He also signed a sweeping immigration deal in May 2023 that critics called “open borders for India”, which included a scheme allowing thousands of Indian graduates or young professionals to live and work in Australia for two years, and then apply for permanent skilled visas.
And last month Mr Albanese launched the Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India, which included a promise to “fully implement” the Mechanism for the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications between Australia and India, which was signed in 2023.
The deal forces Australia to recognise all Indian educational qualifications from secondary school through to the doctorate degree level, for both education and general employment purposes.
Header image: Left, Mr Albanese poses in front of the Hindu statue. Right, Mr Albanese at the temple (Facebook).
