Parramatta councillor Michael Ng slammed for demanding Senator Jacinta Price apologise to the Indian community
A Sydney councillor’s push to condemn Jacinta Price’s remarks about the Indian community have backfired with opponents blasting him for trying to score cheap political points.
A Parramatta councillor’s push for his colleagues to condemn Jacinta Price’s remarks about the Indian community has backfired after opponents accused him of political point scoring, treating the migrant group like fools and causing more hurt.
Labor councillor Michael Ng raised a notice of motion at the council’s Monday night meeting to condemn the senator’s remarks following her suggestion last month that “large numbers” of Indian migrants were being allowed in because “the community votes for Labor”.
Cr Ng raised the issue at the September meeting but it was not debated because it was not deemed a matter of urgency.
He acknowledged Ms Price’s remarks were made last month but insisted he should not be “silenced because of time” and the issue was “critical” after causing distress and division in the Indian community.
“I acknowledge that this is an issue that has been distant from our core business ... but having Little India in our local government area, this is important,’’ he said.
But Liberal councillor Sreeni Pillamarri, who has Indian heritage, blasted the motion and said the council has “got much more better ideals to deal with” instead of treating the topic like the “world has come to an end”.
“It’s almost been four weeks,’’ he said.
“I think we have much more better issues to deal with. It’s a federal issue and I don’t know why he wants to bring it down here.
“The way you’ve brought it forward, I feel you’re trying to divide the communities after everything went under the carpet.’’
Liberal Tanya Raffoul slammed Cr Ng’s motion.
“Apart from it being an obvious attempt of political point scoring with our precious Indian community, I think that Cr Ng has perhaps treated the community like fools – they are not,’’ she said.
“They know that one senator, who comes from the Northern Territory, says about a particular community has no bearing at all on what this local Liberal team feels and believes about the local Indian community.’’
Liberal councillor Steven Issa was also scathing towards Cr Ng.
“Effectively Cr Ng, while your intent was great what you’ve done is drag this Indian community back through the hurt that may have been caused by those comments,’’ he said.
“Once everyone’s had time to heal, everyone’s had time to move on, Cr Ng thinks it’s a great idea to bring it back – not for the sake of the Indian community – for his own sake, for political point scoring we’re using the Indian community for your own political benefit.’’
Cr Ng clapped back at Cr Issa and rejected the claim of political scoring, and reminded him Opposition Leader Sussan Ley visited Little India once the comments were made.
Labor councillor Patricia Prociv leapt to the defence of Cr Ng and said he was often with her interacting with the community in Little India.
At the end, the motion was amended to eliminate any mention of Ms Price.
Instead, the council agreed to acknowledge the Indian community’s contribution to the city and affirmed its commitment to multiculturalism.
