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Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Hon.Chris Bowen MP

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPOINTED NEW MEMBERS OF SUB-CONTINENT MINISTERIAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland MP, and Senator for Tasmania, Lisa Singh, today announced the inaugural members of the Sub-Continent Ministerial Consultative Committee.

“I extend my congratulations to the new members of the Sub-Continent Ministerial Consultative Committee, who will play an important role in informing the Government of the views of their community,” Mr Bowen said.

“The Sub-Continent community has made a valuable contribution to Australian cultural, social and economic life and it is time their views are heard.”

Senator Lundy said the members of the new committee were distinguished individuals who would serve their community well.

“The new committee will provide a valuable conduit for leaders from the Sub-Continent community to engage with Government and continue to contribute to the success and prosperity of our nation,” Senator Lundy said.

“Australians from the Sub-Continent community have made a robust contribution to the cultural richness of our nation over generations through hard work, drive and strong families.”

Ms Rowland said that the members of the Sub-Continent Committee will be able to build upon the significant contribution the Sub-Continent community has made to the strength and prosperity of Australia.

“The members of the Sub-Continent Ministerial Consultative Committee have all demonstrated significant experience in working with their communities and I look forward to working together to achieve positive outcomes for the Sub-Continent community.”

Senator Singh added that she was pleased to be co-chairing the committee with Ms Rowland.

“Australia’s Sub-Continent community is as large as it is vibrant,” Ms Singh said.

”This committee provides an opportunity for leaders across Australia’s Sub-Continent community to have direct input into government policy.”

The Ministerial Consultative Committee is comprised of 17 members drawn from Sub-Continent community leaders around Australia:

Mr Mahendra Kumar Lamsal: Executive Member of the Non-Residential Nepali Association Australia; Member of the Nepal Australia Democratic Forum.

Ms Aisha Amjad: Information Secretary for the Pakistan Association of Australia; former member of staff in Australia’s High Commission to Pakistan.

Dr Ali Safraz: Chairman of the Pakistan Australian Federation; former President of Pakistan Association of Australia; Honorary President of South-West Mosque Bonnyrigg. 

Mrs Varuni Balachandar: Executive Officer of the Australian Tamil Congress; Member of the Consortium of Tamil Associations.

Dr Vairamuttu Manamohan: Chairperson of the Australian Tamil Electoral Lobby; President of the Sydney Murugan Hindu Temple Association; President of the Australian Medical Aid Foundation (NSW Chapter).

Mrs Sumati Advani: President of Sydney Sindhi Association; former President of United Indian Associations; Member of the Global Women's Network.

Professor Nihal S. Agar: President of the Hindu Council of Australia; founder and former President of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Australia; former President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Mr Dilip Chirmuley AM: former President of the Indian Australian Association of South Australia; former President of the Hindu Society of South Australia; Board Member of the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations; Patron of Adelaide Marathi Mandal; Member of the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia.

Mr Amarinder Bajwa: President of the United Indian Association; Co-Chair Business Coordinator Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO); National Coordinator of GOPIO Australia. 

Mr Kanti Jinna: Vice-President of the Hindu Council of Australia; Member of the India Australia Association of Canberra; Vice-President of the Indian Senior Citizens Association of Canberra; Patron of the Fiji Australia Association of Canberra; former President of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre of the Australian Capital Territory; Vice-President of the Royal Commonwealth Society of Canberra.  

Mr Manoj Kumar: Executive Member of the Australia India Business Council; President and Public Officer of the Cross Culture Club Australia; Executive Member of the Knox Council Multicultural Advisory Committee.

Ms Jayanthi Srinivas: President of the Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory; Executive Member of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia; former President of the Indian Cultural Society of the Northern Territory; Vice-President of the Multilingual Broadcasting Council of the Northern Territory.

Mr Anil Verma: Secretary of the Hindu Mandir Association of Queensland; former Member of the Ministerial Multicultural Advisory Committee of Queensland.

Harish Velji: Member of the United Indian Associations; Indian community leader and advocate.

Dr Mrs Lovely Rahman: General Secretary of the Bangabandhu Society of Australia; Executive Committee Member of the Bangladesh Awami League Australia; Senior Vice-President of the Bangladesh Awami Jubo League of Australia. 

Mr Chandrasiri Bamunusinghe: President of the North Victoria Sri Lankan Welfare Association; Member of the Regional Advisory Council for the Victorian Multicultural Commission. 

Mr Rajwant Singh: Punjabi Council of Australia.

The committee will meet regularly with the co-chairs and at least twice a year with Ministers Bowen and Lundy. The Government will also hold an annual forum for the committee to facilitate access to the Prime Minister and other senior Government Ministers.

                Varuni Bala, Amarinder Bajwa, Rajwant Singh, Hon. Michelle Rowland MP, Harish Velji and Aisha Amjad