PA/17/10 24 February 2010
Australian community gets behind ‘Vindaloo Against Violence’ campaign – Indian restaurants booked out
Premier Brumby joins campaign lunching with Indian students
Australians have joined the ‘Vindaloo against Violence’ campaign in their thousands today.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Peter Varghese, said “this is a simple but telling gesture from the Australian community to India and the Indian members of Australia’s community.”
“Australians love the diversity of our multicultural society and have categorically rejected the events of the recent past – they have no place in a society as culturally plural as ours.”
“This initiative will help in building bridges and restoring the trust, respect and friendship that exists between the broad Australian community and its valued members of Indian origin.”
Events took place across Australia. In Melbourne, Premier Brumby dined with representatives of the Indian students community at a popular Indian café, Desi Dhaba. In Canberra, senior staff from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade dined with the Indian High Commissioner, Sujatha Singh in support of this initiative. The Victorian and Queensland Parliaments shaped their lunch menu to reflect the initiative.
Please find attached:
• A press release from the Premier of Victoria, Mr John Brumby, who took part in the Vindaloo Against Violence initiative today
• An article from The Age newspaper, Australia on the campaign
Media enquiries: 011 4139 9900
Premier joins thousands for Vindaloo against violence
The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby today joined thousands of Victorians participating in the Vindaloo Against Violence initiative by having lunch at an Indian restaurant with people from Victoria’s Indian student community.
Mr Brumby said the response from Victorians to the initiative demonstrated the community’s commitment to uniting in its solidarity with the Indian community and celebrating multiculturalism.
“The Vindaloo Against Violence initiative is a unique opportunity for Victorians to unite and send a message that the actions of an ignorant few will not be allowed to undermine the reputation of Melbourne as a peaceful and friendly city,” Mr Brumby said.
“Victoria has been shaped by people from across the world. We come from over 200 countries, speak more than 230 languages and dialects and follow more than 120 faiths. Today, Victoria’s 150,000-strong Indian community is a vital part of modern-day multicultural Victoria.
“Victoria’s cultural diversity is one of our strengths and any attack on our community is an attack upon us all. Any attack motivated by race or prejudice is particularly disgraceful.
“Our diverse, dynamic multiculturalism was celebrated by the thousands of Victorians who marched through the city’s streets at the Harmony Walk last year.”
Vindaloo Against Violence was developed by Melbourne resident Mia Northrop. It is expected that more than 10,000 people will participate in Vindaloo Against Violence activities across Australia.
Mr Brumby was joined by members of the Indian community, including Indian students studying in Melbourne for lunch at popular Indian café Desi Dhaba in Melbourne’s CBD.
The Victorian Parliament dining hall has also changed its menu to serve Indian cuisine in support of the Vindaloo Against Violence initiative.
“It is well-known that Victorians like to eat out and we have an international reputation for our world-class food scene. This great initiative combines that culinary reputation and uses it to send a message that we do not accept violence against any members of our community,” Mr Brumby said.
Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government and Victorian community were taking a range of strong, practical actions to address violence, re-affirm the state’s commitment to multiculturalism and to improve the experience of international students, including:
- A crackdown on illegal weapons, specifically knives, including a month-long weapons amnesty, a new longer-term education campaign aimed at people who carry knives and a blitz on weapons sellers to be led by Consumer Affairs Victoria;
- Providing $47 million to put 120 more police on the beat – on top of the 350 already being delivered in this term and in addition to the 1400 extra police but back into the police force since 1999;
- Giving extra powers to police to focus on crime hot-spots, search for weapons, move people from trouble spots and fine people on the spot for disorderly conduct;
- Amending sentencing laws so that judges can take into account hatred for, or prejudice against a particular group when sentencing offenders. The Police Indian Western Reference Group has been established to identify, implement and monitor strategies to engage police and Indian communities to reduce the risk of crime;
- Establishing a new 24-hour international student care service so that international students can obtain support and assistance around the clock, including referrals and assistance with accommodation, counselling, legal assistance and support services;
- Establishing an international student welcome booth at Melbourne Airport and boosting funding for the Indian International Student Advisory Service;
- As part of the $38 billion Victorian Transport plan, providing $30 million to enable Victoria Police to deploy an additional 50 transit police on the public transport network; and
- New train operators Metro Trains Melbourne have committed to working with Victoria Police to cut crime across the public transport network by 10 per cent and deploying more than 100 extra customer service officers and staffing 22 more train stations.
Indian restaurants run full steam ahead for Vindaloo Against Violence
Larissa Ham – The Age
February 24, 2010 - 2:29PM
http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/epicure/articles/2010/02/24/1266687092589.html
Chefs in Indian restaurants across Melbourne are running at full steam this afternoon, as thousands prepare to treat their tastebuds in support of racial harmony.
Many Indian restaurants in Melbourne, and across Australia, have been booked out well in advance for tonight's Vindaloo Against Violence campaign, organised as a reaction to a spate of attacks across the city and resulting negative coverage around the world.
Mia Northrop, 35, a digital media professional from Flemington, initially invited 100 friends on Facebook to dine out to support the Indian community, but her idea quickly gathered pace beyond expectations.
More than 16,000 protesters have now registered their participation at more than 400 restaurants across Australia.
Federation Square is also supporting tonight's venture, with the Merchants of Bollywood performing from 5pm, a DJ set and a screening of the film King of Bollywood.
"It's been an amazing response," Ms Northrop said.
"I think it's been an important time for people to say we don't want our country tarnished as a racist place. The majority of us really enjoy the cultural diversity and have nothing but respect for our migrant communities."
Dinners will be held as far afield Amsterdam, Thailand, Malaysia, rural areas of Australia and all capital cities, including lunch in Queensland's State Parliament.
Ms Northrop will have lunch with Melbourne High School students at Little India in South Yarra before dining at her local Indian restaurant in Flemington.
Many other restaurants have been booked out since at least last week.
Brenda Pereira, co-owner of Indian Tukka on Victoria in Collingwood said they would serve up to 90 people.
"I think it will go really well. It's just the awareness, everyone letting their friends know, it has a domino effect," she said.
"I'm sure it will go well and the message will go out to the community."
Owner of Northcote's Downunder Curry, Rajendra Pokhrel arrived four hours early to his restaurant to begin preparing and cooking.
"Whatever support they're showing it's great. If I let them down it's not going to be good," he said.
"It's great, it's definitely sending a message across."
Melbourne's Tiffins, which delivers hot Indian meals by bicycle, is having one of its busiest days on record.
Mikhil Kotak, who owns the business with brother Maddy, said they had to close their website down because of the phenomenal response to today's campaign.
"It is so busy we have four vans helping our fleet of five bikes to make 1000 deliveries during lunch today," he said.
"This is a huge amount and just goes to show how passionate locals feel about this message.”
Ms Northrop knows there is no easy fix to the violence, but hopes this event will let the Indian community know "that they are welcome and entitled to feel safe here".
For more information go to http://vindalooagainstviolence.wordpress.com