Mark McGowan caught in backlash from India-born voters

Mark McGowan and three Indian-born MPs come under attack from Perth’s Indian community over their support for the ban on arrivals.

Indian community members Rodney D’Souza, Sunil Verna and Ramdas Sankaran outside MP Jags Krishnan’s office. Picture: Colin Murty

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan and his government’s three Indian-born MPs have come under attack from Perth’s Indian community over their support for Scott Morrison’s ban on Australian citizens wanting to ­return from the subcontinent.

They say the local community has been exposed to racism since Mr McGowan criticised a Perth man who legally returned to India in December to be married and returned in April with his bride, both of whom later tested positive in quarantine.

The Premier also referred to India’s COVID testing regime as “dodgy”, and said he supported the federal government’s decision to threaten Australians who return from India with fines of up to $66,000 or five years’ jail.

His comments have triggered a wave of protest from community leaders and a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission. Ethnic community social worker Ann Melbin, who has family relatives in Kerala, said she lodged the complaint this week.

“I never expected this country to abandon its citizens,” she said. “They don’t understand that many people wanting to flee danger have given up Indian passports to become Australian citizens, so they have no civil rights back in India.”

She said Mr McGowan’s ­attack on the newlywed couple was encouraging racism. “That man became a scapegoat, and if you are a premier you should be impartial.”

Former Ethnic Communities Council president Ramdas Sankaran said the Indian community — the largest ethic group in WA — was hoping that Labor’s overwhelming majority in parliament, and three MPs with links to the Indian subcontinent, would lead to pressure on the federal Liberal government. “Our community has been shattered by this, and they are conservative people who are not rabblerousers,” he said. “Both sides of politics have effectively disenfranchised our people about who to vote for.

“At state and federal government level, they have behaved in a manner that makes us wonder who will look after Australian citizens of Indian origin. Yet our communities raised money for their election campaigns.”

Three WA Labor MPs have links to India, with Yaz Mubarakai, Jags Krishnan and Kevin Michel all born there.

Businessman Sunil Verma said he voted for Mr McGowan and his local Labor member Dr Krishnan at the March state election. “I wrote to them about the travel ban, but I haven’t had a reply,” he said. “I was told they are working behind the scenes, but we need them on the frontline.

“Common people get no help, but filmstars and Australian Open tennis players can come in anytime and the Australian cricketers will no doubt find their way back to Australia.”

Dr Krishnan said he was pleased by the McGowan government’s announcement on Monday that it would provide $2m in Indian relief funds for oxygen equipment and PPE.

“What’s happening in India right now is devastating and my thoughts are with the WA Indian community (that) has banded ­together with initiatives and on-the-ground efforts to assist people personally affected.”