What Do Victoria’s Political Parties Have to Say to the Australian Hindu and Indian Community?
With Victoria’s 2026 State Election approaching, Optics Australia urges political parties to outline clear policy positions on key issues impacting all Victorians, while directly addressing the genuine aspirations and concerns of Hindu and Indian-Australian communities.
Elections are an important opportunity for citizens to assess political leadership, scrutinise policy and hold aspiring governments accountable. They should be about more than campaign slogans, personalities and electoral promises. They should provide an opportunity for meaningful conversations about the future of the state and the communities that contribute to its prosperity.
The Australian Hindu and Indian community is an integral part of Victoria’s economic, professional, academic, entrepreneurial and cultural landscape. They contribute across healthcare, education, business, technology, research and public service. The Hindu community, with its rich philosophical traditions, cultural heritage and longstanding emphasis on service, is an important part of this contribution.
Yet meaningful participation in a democracy requires more than celebrating multicultural diversity. It requires representation, recognition, equal opportunity, security of religious freedom and a genuine willingness by political leaders to listen.
Optics Australia is therefore inviting political parties contesting the Victorian election to respond to a set of priority questions covering both statewide concerns and issues of particular importance to the Indian and Hindu communities.
The issues that matter to every Victorian
How will political parties address Victoria’s economic challenges and ensure responsible management of public finances? What will they do to make housing more accessible to younger generations? How will they reduce hospital waiting times, improve emergency healthcare and address workforce shortages?
Cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare, education, public safety and infrastructure remain fundamental concerns for Victorian households. Equally important are law and order, reliable public transport, educational standards and the infrastructure required to support a growing population. These are not community-specific concerns. They are issues that affect every Victorian and should form the foundation of any serious election platform.
Below is an infographic on where the different political parties stand with respect to their election promises and agendas.
Recognition, representation and security
For the Indian-Australian and Hindu communities, there are additional questions that deserve serious political attention.
Will political parties commit to meaningful representation of multicultural communities in Parliament, public institutions and government advisory bodies?
Will they establish genuine consultation mechanisms with Indian and Hindu community organisations rather than engaging with communities only during election campaigns?
The security of individuals and protection of places of worship is another important issue. Hindu temples are not simply religious buildings. They are centres of worship, cultural education, community service, intergenerational learning and social connection.
The community expects political leaders to take incidents of vandalism, intimidation, threats and hostility directed towards places of worship and religious communities seriously.
Similarly, anti-Hindu prejudice and religious discrimination must be addressed consistently and fairly. All Victorians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, should enjoy equal protection under the law.
Preserving heritage while building a shared future
Multiculturalism should not be reduced to food festivals and symbolic celebrations. It should recognise the histories, philosophies, traditions and contributions that different communities bring to Australian society.
Indian civilisation and Hindu philosophical traditions have made significant contributions to world thought, mathematics, science, literature, philosophy and spirituality.
Supporting cultural education, heritage preservation, festivals, youth leadership and intergenerational programs is not about creating divisions. It is about enabling communities to preserve their identity while contributing confidently to a shared Australian future.
The next generation of Australian Hindus and Indians should have every opportunity to participate in public life, demonstrate leadership and contribute to the broader Australian story without feeling compelled to choose between their cultural heritage and their Australian identity.
Ten questions. Clear answers. Measurable commitments.
Optics Australia has identified ten priority questions for political parties, covering economic management, housing, healthcare, community safety, representation, religious freedom, anti-Hindu discrimination, cultural recognition, equitable community funding and political accountability.
We are seeking more than general assurances. We want parties to identify specific policies, proposed funding, implementation timeframes and measurable outcomes.
Importantly, these questions are not an electoral endorsement of any party or an attempt to promote a particular political ideology. They are an invitation to democratic engagement and accountability.
Every political party should have an equal opportunity to respond. Their responses should be made publicly available so that voters can assess the commitments and make informed decisions.
We have emailed the questions to all the major political parties in the state and will publish their responses when they are received.
Our democracy is stronger when every voice is heard
The Australian Hindu and Indian community is not merely an audience to be addressed during election campaigns. It is an active, contributing and increasingly influential part of Victoria’s civic life.
Political engagement should be reciprocal. Communities must participate, ask difficult questions and hold elected representatives accountable. Political parties, in turn, must demonstrate that they understand the concerns and aspirations of the people they seek to represent.
Ultimately, the question is not simply what political parties promise before an election. It is what they are prepared to deliver afterwards.
Optics Australia’s message to all political parties is straightforward: listen to the community, recognise its contribution, respect its heritage and demonstrate your commitment through action.
We at Optics Australia, also advocate for the Australian Hindu and Indian community to play an active, engaged role in this democratic process.
Our objective is simple: an informed community, accountable leadership and a stronger, more inclusive Victoria.
Optics Australia
Awareness. Representation. Community Empowerment.
