Outrage over Campbelltown councillors’ comments over rejected Indian festival

TWO Adelaide councillors have vetoed an application by an Indian community group to stage a festival in a local park after raising concerns that they hide “behind their language’’. HEAR THE AUDIO.

TWO Campbelltown councillors have vetoed an application by an Indian community group to stage a festival in a local park after raising concerns that they hide “behind their language’’.

Punjabi Association of SA had its application to hold its Diwali Festival in Thorndon Park in October rejected last week. The council citied “noise complaints’’ as the reason following a previous staging in 2014.

However, councillors John Kennedy and Neville Grigg raised other unrelated concerns as well.

Upset at council comments, festival knockback: Khyati and Bhavik Fadia are with Kuldip Chugha and Devarsh Fadia. Picture: Mark Brake

“We will probably get them turning around, shrugging their shoulders and saying ‘me know nothing’,” Mr Kennedy told the council meeting.

“I’m not against multiculturalism, but ethnic groups do have a habit for hiding behind their language as we have seen over the years with certain groups in Campbelltown.

“I really have a concern that we are just tying a noose around our neck and we will just not be able to police all the conditions.”

Mr Grigg said the Punjabi Association should look elsewhere for a venue for its festival. “We are not the only park in Adelaide, there are plenty of other places they can go to,” Mr Grigg said.

“We don’t have to feel guilty about denying them the use of it. There is no way known that they will be speaking English all day.”

Punjabi Association of SA president Kuldip Chugha was outraged by the councillors’ comments.

“These councillors are not just only for Indian, Greek or Italian people, they are councillors for everyone in the Campbelltown area,” he said. “It looks to me that this council is very, very discriminatory.’’

Mr Chugha, who owns three properties in Campbelltown and Rostrevor, said the council was “anti-multicultural”. “The Diwali Festival is for the whole community, not just Indian people.’’

Equal Opportunity Commissioner Niki Vincent said she was disappointed with the comments and would write to Campbelltown Council to suggest ways of “eliminating racial discrimination”.

“I find it very disappointing to hear that derogatory comments have been made by elected members of the Campbelltown Council about people of a particular race,” Ms Vincent said

The Punjabi Association’s application was knocked back on the grounds that the council received phone calls from “a number” of residents complaining about the noise from the 2014 festival.

When the East Torrens Messenger contacted Mr Kennedy and Mr Grigg for a response to Ms Vincent’s comments they both said the decision was not based on race or discrimination.

Mr Kennedy said he was acting in the best interest of the community. “The decision of (the) council was made on past experiences of the complaints we received after the 2014 festival,” Mr Kennedy said.

“It has nothing to do with discrimination.”

Mr Grigg also defended the council’s decision.

“I based my decision on the performances of two years ago and the number of complaints we had from the local residents,” Mr Grigg said.

“I don’t believe it is a racial decision at all.”

The council rejected the association’s application five votes to two.

Councillors Matthew Noble and Marijka Ryan backed the association’s bid, while Mayor Simon Brewer, who as the meeting’s chair did not have a vote, also expressed support for the festival.

“I am probably one of the very few (from the council) who actually did attend the last festival,” Mr Brewer said.

“It wasn’t unruly, it wasn’t unfriendly and it was actually a quite inviting place to be.”

Ms Ryan said the festival was “recognised globally for peace, harmony and love”.

“I believe strongly in Campbelltown being a melting pot for different multicultural organisations and peoples,” Ms Ryan said. “Everybody has the freedom to speak whatever language they want to.”

State Multicultural Affairs Minister Zoe Bettison says a “progressive and outward thinking” council will jump at the chance to host the Diwali festival.

“Comments made by Campbelltown councillors John Kennedy and Neville Grigg (see report, left) belong in the past,” Ms Bettison told the East Torrens Messenger.

“Having hosted and attended a number of Diwali festivals, I can assure the councillors they are wonderful. Diwali’s message of light prospering over darkness appears to be lost on these two councillors.

“I’m sure a more progressive and outward thinking council would welcome the event with open arms.

“South Australia has a vibrant and diverse Indian community who also play an important role in helping SA businesses break into markets in India.”

More than 1100 Indian-born people live in Campbelltown, according to the 2011 Census.

AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION IN FULL