Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:55): I move:

That the petition be taken into consideration.

Today we have a choice to make – a choice about how we treat our communities, a choice about how much consultation needs to be provided in order to show respect to the local community. Today in this chamber we have a number of people that have come out from their local area because this situation matters to them. They represent different religions, they represent different ethnic backgrounds, but they do represent their local community, a community that they love, an area that has become part of who they are, an area that they have known and loved as Berwick Springs. As a local myself – the only one who lives near this community and has walked around this lake as part of my lifestyle and has spent time visiting people in this area – I know that Berwick Springs lake was a very important part of this community during the times of lockdown. It was a place where people would walk in order to be able to get out and have that moment away from the pressure of not being able to see family and friends in their homes.

Berwick Springs has a long history. It dates back to 1855, when the gentleman who purchased the land called his land ‘The Springs’ – William Clarke. He started a legacy that has become part of what is known to the local community, and it is very, very important to them. What is in a name, you say? ‘What’s in a name?’ said Shakespeare when he was writing the speech for Juliet, who was trying to think about why Montagues and Capulets could not get along, and trying to reduce the pressure of a name. But a name is something that has identity and culture. Many people think that it is part of their being. It is part of their history. It has personal meaning. It can have a profound meaning. It means a connection to family – a connection to who they are, a connection to their cherished hopes, a connection to their history.

This government showed complete and utter disrespect for this community when it came out and decided – because they do not live there, because they do not know what it is like to live there and because they do not represent that area themselves in terms of being a resident – to change the name of the lake without consulting the community. They were left out of that consultation. Minister Stitt here, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny were also part of this renaming. They brought out their big Labor team and went out and changed that name. And how did that happen? It happened because Mr Daniel Andrews, when he was Premier, made a $1 million promise when he went to a party of people and said, ‘While I’m here, we are going to gift you as well a name somewhere – maybe a street name, maybe something else.’ That would have been fine if it had been something that either did not mean anything to anybody or they had done proper consultation for – not as in a place that did not mean anything for the people but a place that had not yet had significance for the locals, a place that did not yet have a name. But Berwick Springs lake did have a name. It was Berwick Springs lake, and it meant something to this community.

This is not about religion. This is not about race. This is about a government that has failed its community and has completely disregarded who they are by lacking consultation. It has to stop. These people are standing for so many Victorians who right now feel that this government is just going to railroad how they feel about their local community and start naming things without consulting them. It is an appalling situation. Today we have with us many distinguished councillors from the local area, and even the Labor mayor himself has referred in social media to the Berwick Springs lake as Berwick Springs. What is this government doing? It is causing division. It is causing a community to be divided. This is not about hate. It is not about race or religion. It is about a lack of consultation.

 Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (18:00): I rise today to reaffirm the Allan Labor government’s unwavering commitment to multiculturalism, respect and unity. These are values that sit at the very heart of who we are as Victorians. Victoria’s story is a story of migration. We would not be the Victoria that we love today without the contributions of generations of migrants, from Italians and Greeks to Vietnamese and Afghans.

No more is this on display than in our large and proud Indian and broader South Asian community. Generations of migrants from India and its surrounding regions have not only chosen to make Victoria home but built the Victoria that we all love today. From small businesses to cultural festivals, from community organisations to places of worship, multicultural communities represent the very best of Victoria’s values, and our Sikh community is a shining example of this spirit. Sikh Victorians contribute to every part of our state in health, education and business and to the work of charity and volunteerism. In just a few weeks the global Sikh community will celebrate the anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth, now approaching its 556th year. For the Sikh diaspora, this is the most sacred day of the year, a time of reflection, prayer and service.

In this context the Liberal Party’s decision to move a motion against the naming of Guru Nanak Lake has caused deep hurt and offence to our Sikh and our broader Indian communities. The timing of this motion, falling so close to both Diwali and Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, sends an unfortunate and insensitive message to those communities, especially when they should be celebrating. I have been contacted by numerous Sikh community leaders who have expressed their deep concern to me about the timing of this debate. It only adds to those voices who in recent months have sought to divide and to spread hate, often for their own political ends. We saw that on display at the anti-immigration marches that were attended and perhaps led by neo-Nazis, and we have heard it from the mouths of some politicians. It was also deeply distressing for members of the Sikh community to see notorious –

Ann-Marie Hermans: On a point of order, President, I think it is deeply offensive – and there must be some way of being able to call her to account – for the minister to start accusing the community of being neo-Nazis.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: It is not a point of order either.

Ingrid STITT: I would urge the member to read Hansard.

It was also deeply distressing for members of the Sikh community to see those notorious neo-Nazi figures attending community protests. To our Sikh community, to our broader Indian community, to our South Asian community and to all our multicultural communities, I want to say this: you are not strangers; you are Victorians, you are Australians. You are welcome here in Victoria. You deserve peace, safety and respect.

The naming of Guru Nanak Lake reflects the values that unite us, not those that divide us. The former Premier made an election commitment in 2018 to name a landmark in honour of the life and legacy of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in recognition of our Sikh community, their contributions to our state and the values they uphold: humility, peace and selfless service. Last year that commitment was fulfilled through the naming of a lake in Berwick Springs Wetland Reserve – a previously unnamed landmark now known as Guru Nanak Lake. I understand that there have been some concerns about the process of this naming. The local member and I have met with representatives of the Berwick Springs Community Association on a number of occasions in an attempt to find a constructive path forward. However, it is important that our placenames reflect the multiculturalism and diversity of our state, which is exactly what the naming of this previously unnamed lake has done.

It stands as a symbol of the harmony that we continue to build and of our deep gratitude to Sikh volunteers for their ongoing contribution to our shared story. So as we lead into Diwali and Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, we are, on this side of the house, reaffirming what truly makes Victoria the place we love: our unity, our respect for difference and our belief that every person from every background belongs here.

 David LIMBRICK (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:06): Firstly, I would like to thank the petitioners who went to the trouble of signing this petition and putting it forward and indeed getting enough signatures to get it before Parliament. The government talks a big game on social cohesion, but I did not notice any problems with social cohesion in Berwick until the government did this. They have overridden a history that has derived from at least 1855, when it was named after a local property owner, that continued until the government renamed this without consultation with local people. Also, naming a local location with the name of a religious leader who does not have a local connection historically to the area I think is just so incredibly divisive. The government has created social division here where it did not exist before, and I think that absolutely has to be undone. We have to look into the process that went into this, because it is just unacceptable that the government comes in and overrides hundreds of years of history in this case. The government is talking about connection to place and things like this. Well, the people of Berwick had a connection to place too for over 100 years, and that needs to be respected. I just think that what the government has done here is absolutely outrageous, it absolutely should be revoked, and this consultation process should start again. What they have done here is wrong.

Interjections from gallery.

The PRESIDENT: That is the one you get. If there is any more, what happens is I just walk out and the day is finished. If I leave this chair, it is all over. So thank you for your cooperation in the future.

 Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (18:07): I rise to speak in response to this petition, which has been tabled by my colleague Mrs Hermans. While I recognise the concerns raised by members of the local community and recognise they are genuine, I do not actually support this petition. The renaming of Berwick Springs lake should be viewed in its proper context, as a simple and appropriate broader recognition of the contribution of Victoria’s Sikh community – and a great contribution they have made and continue to make to our state. The Sikh community in Victoria is vibrant, generous and deeply woven into Victoria’s social and cultural fabric. They are spread across many communities, including my own electorate in the northern suburbs, as well as the south-east, where this lake is located. From small businesses to essential services, from community kitchens to volunteer emergency response, Sikh Victorians have demonstrated time and time again their commitment to service, equality and hard work. The turban, the kara and the teachings of the gurus are symbols not just of faith but of responsibility: a responsibility to uplift others, to stand for justice and to treat every single person with dignity and respect.

When we talk about the renaming of Berwick Springs lake, we are not simply discussing a name on a sign; we are recognising a living tradition that has enriched our communities for generations. The Sikh community has built gurdwaras that are open to all, regardless of background or belief. I know this through my own electorate, having visited the Craigieburn Sikh gurdwara on several occasions, and having visited gurdwaras across our state, like in Hoppers Crossing as well. They are open to all. They are great places of community, and it is great to be able to go into kitchens and see them cooking meals for people, see people taking part in worship, taking part in their faith freely and humbly. The Sikh community have shown compassion through initiatives such as free meals for the homeless and disaster relief efforts during bushfires and floods. This spirit of selfless service, known as seva, reflects the best of Victoria’s multicultural community.

At the heart of this discussion lies the wisdom of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and a messenger of universal brotherhood. He taught us that all humans are equal no matter what their religion, gender or social standing. This message remains as powerful today as it was five centuries ago. At a time when the world was divided by hierarchy and discrimination Guru Nanak stood up as a reformer and a visionary. He rejected injustice, challenged superstition and called on humanity to see the divine light of every person. Guru Nanak also taught us the importance of hard work and honest living, Kirat Karo, and of sharing with others, Vand Chhako. These values remind us that dignity is found in labour and that community thrives when success is shared. They encourage all of us, regardless of faith, to live ethically and to contribute meaningfully to society. Guru Nanak lived simply and humbly. He travelled vast distances across India, the Middle East, Asia, spreading messages of peace and unity – messages that we should take up and follow today and use as an example. The renaming of Berwick Springs should be seen as a celebration of these universal values and principles.

I will be asking the Minister for Multicultural Affairs for a briefing on the name-a-place campaign. I know there are a lot of diverse communities that have deep interest in this. As far as wide, I would like these kinds of things to have consultation, because there clearly has been a gap there, but also to be as bipartisan as possible. The minister says a lot of people and leaders have been reaching out to her – that is, I am guessing, correct – and says that some people are causing division. But you have had as recently as today Labor activists and even Labor MPs sharing social images, generated by either the Premier’s private office or Labor HQ, causing division in the community about this petition. That is not social cohesion, as this government claims to stand for. That is wielding multicultural communities for their own political gain – the exact same thing they accuse some politicians of doing. The Indian community know I stand up for them. I called out the racism of the rallies prior to the rallies, prior to the Premier even did. I will stand up for the Indian community every single day of the week.

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (18:13): I rise on behalf of the Victorian Greens to put on record our response to this petition. Once again, today I know my colleague Ms Gray-Barberio was hoping to speak on this petition but has lost her voice, so I will be sharing the Greens contribution.

While as a party we have always supported the right of Victorians to petition the Parliament, we do not have to support subject of those petitions or support the views expressing them being given a platform in this place. In this instance, we are particularly appalled at the divisive nature of the petition and are incredibly disappointed to see it being brought to debate and given airtime by the member over there today. I want to be clear: landmarks should reflect and represent the diverse communities who live there and our shared commitment to unity, inclusion and belonging. This petition debate does not reflect those values. Instead, it feeds into the same tired, divisive narrative that seeks to pit communities against one another for political gain.

Victoria’s Sikh communities are an integral part of our state, contributing to our neighbourhoods and our shared culture. However, people should not have to prove their worth or benefit to society in order to be respected. Every community deserves to be celebrated simply because they are part of Victoria, because they exist here, belong here and enrich who we are. Sikh communities deserve to feel seen and celebrated and to have their culture represented, not attacked or othered, especially by elected representatives. Today my colleagues, Mr Galea and I met with a group of young Sikh leaders aspiring to perhaps sit in this place one day representing our community. What sort of message does bringing a petition like this to this chamber send to those young people?

I am here to say that the Greens do not think it is acceptable. We should be working together to build a Victoria where everyone feels at home, where our public spaces and landmarks tell a story of who we truly are, a state strengthened by diversity and solidarity. This is something we should be celebrating. It is something that we should be proud of. Once again, we express disappointment in this sort of debate being brought into this chamber. I and my Greens colleagues will continue to promote a Victoria that is inclusive and representative of everyone, regardless of their background. Right now we should be promoting belonging, togetherness and peace, not division and hate – a responsibility that rests with everyone in this place.

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (18:15): I rise to make some commentary on this petition. Whilst I understand the strong community view of many that the government did not consult properly – and no doubt it is fully true that the government has dropped the ball on proper process and consultation – nonetheless our multicultural community is precious to us. It is absolutely critical that we protect all parts of our multicultural community. The Sikh community is a very important part of our community in Victoria. I, for one, want to send the strongest and clearest message as Leader of the Opposition in this chamber that we stand with the Sikh community and we will do so into the future. Recognition of Guru Nanak is an entirely appropriate step.

Mr Mulholland has made a very good point to the minister that as we go forward with the naming of many features, there does need to be a proper process, it does need to include the full community and it should not be done from on high. But notwithstanding that very valuable point, it is true that the contribution of the Sikh community, Guru Nanak as the very significant beginner of that community and the community’s ongoing contribution to Victoria should be appropriately recognised. Their incredible philanthropy is legendary. Whether it is floods or whether it is fire – whatever community need is there – the Sikh community is prepared to step in and provide that support for the community.

The opposition will not be supporting the taking note of this petition. We will not be supporting it because on this occasion we think the Sikh community does deserve the support of this chamber and of this Parliament. We will be very clear on this: we do stand with the Sikh community. Mr Mulholland has made very significant points about the need for a proper process, and we hold that out to the government. We say you cannot override and ride roughshod over communities. You need to start listening and engaging with communities properly. That is a deep and important democratic principle. But equally, in this circumstance, we are a very important multicultural community. A community that is a big contributor to our community statewide is being recognised. We are prepared to support that.

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:18): In reply I want to say that nearly 10,300 people signed two Change.org petitions, 4300 signed two parliamentary petitions, 1200 signed Brad Battin’s original petition and 1610 signatures are on a recent e-petition, which will be tabled tomorrow. I want to thank Amanjit Gill, Anthony Tassone and Casey council’s Jennifer Dizon, Melinda Ambros, Michelle Crowther and Shane Taylor. They have all played a key role in exposing the government’s failures on this issue. As I said, in every public gathering that these people have held they have always upheld and praised the Sikh community, thanked them for their volunteer work and shown complete and utter respect for them. But there are a number of religions today, and to assume that every person that is from India is Sikh is wrong. There are people from the community sitting here that are from the Indian community, and they are not Sikh. There are people here from different parts of India and different parts of Southeast Asia, and they are not Sikh. It does not represent them either. It is a name that needs to be revoked out of respect, and the consultation process needs to take place. Guru Nanak can be placed somewhere, but not in the place that already had a name. Berwick Springs was the name of the lake, and nobody is trying to take away anything from the Sikh community.

I go to many multicultural events in many different areas; I get invited to them, and I love my multicultural community. Berwick Springs is up the road from me, and I know many people that live there. It is part of who I am and so is the multicultural community. I am the daughter of migrants. I grew up in multicultural communities, and most of you know that is true. I love the multicultural community, and I do not mind whether they are Sikh or Hindu or Buddhist or Muslim or Christian. It does not bother me; they are my community. I will be voting to support this petition, regardless of some of the ridiculous things that I have heard in terms of not being prepared to support a community when it is asking for consultation.

Council divided on motion: