Parwinder Kaur Makes History as Australia's First Politician Sworn in Using Sikh Scriptures

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Key Points

Dr Parwinder Kaur is a scientist turned politician.
The newly elected member to the WA Legislative Council became the first politician in Australia to be sworn in with Sikh scriptures.
She came to Australia as an international student in 2007.

Newly elected member to the WA Legislative Council Parwinder Kaur has become the first politician in Australia to be sworn in to parliament with Sikh scriptures.

She took her oath of office by putting her hand on a copy of the Gutka Sahib, a small version of the holy scripture of Sikhism, while standing barefoot in the Parliament of Western Australia.

At her swearing-in ceremony, Kaur wore Indian attire embroidered with religious symbols ‘Ik Onkar’ and ‘Kaur’, her head covered with a traditional scarf.

Ik Onkar is a fundamental principle of the Sikh faith, which means ‘God is one’, and Kaur means ‘princess’.

‘Ik Onkar’ is a fundamental principle of the Sikh faith, meaning ‘God is one’. Credit: Supplied by Dr Parwinder Kaur

While many people from the Sikh faith have represented their community in Australian parliaments in the past, this is the first time someone has taken an oath on a Sikh scripture.

The Constitution of Australia does not limit the oath-taking to any particular scripture. Traditionally, however, the swearing-in ceremony takes place with the Bible, the holy book of Christians.

Honouring the hard work of migrants

Kaur said she chose to swear in on a Sikh scripture because ‘Gurbani’ (the holy writing of Sikh scriptures) has helped her shape her life.

“I have grown up in a Gursikh family,” she said.

“I have been an academic and have worked as a scientist for two decades in Australia.”

“My entire journey of curiosity started with the words that I listened to when my mum and dad prayed early in the morning.”

“The idea that the universe is connected and how it is connected came to me through Gurbani.”

Dr Parwinder Kaur. Credit: Christopher Tan/SBS

She said identifying openly with her religious beliefs would help her work better for all Australians.

“In Gurbani, we pray for ‘sarbat da bhala’ (wellbeing for all). It is the greatest honour of my life that I get to work for the well-being of others,” Kaur said.

She told SBS that she never dreamt of becoming a politician.

“I am reaping the fruit of hard work done by all Punjabi migrants who came before me.”

Dr Parwinder Kaur with her family. Credit: Supplied by Dr Parwinder Kaur

“It was really really special to be able to do that on Gurbani, where it all started.”

“The Sikh faith has a very universal view of things. We believe in one God and knowledge being the ultimate power.”

“In the current geopolitical space we operate in, it is important to live with humility and to be honest and try to be able to bring peace to the world.”

“Good governance is working hard and sharing among all.”

A career in science

Kaur is a migrant from a small village near Nawanshahr in Punjab, a northern state in India. Before joining politics with the Labour Party, she was a biotechnologist.

As a scientist, she has earned many awards, including the Science and Innovation Award from the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2013 and Microsoft’s AI for Earth award in 2019.

It has been 200 years (of people of Sikh faith living in Australia). I have the honour of becoming the very first Kaur, or Sikh woman in Australia, to have the honour of serving in Parliament.

Dr Parwinder Kaur

“It is a milestone. Not just for me but the entire community living in Australia.”

“For me, it’s still a pinch-me moment. Coming here in Australia as an international student, working as a scientist and working on a lab bench. I could never dream this could be a pathway for me … This gives a lot of hope not just to me to everyone who is in this country, thinking about what Australia we are building looks like.”

She remarked that the Parliament of Western Australia looks very much like the “Australia we live in”.

She said that it was her “attitude” and not just “aptitude” which helped her make it to where she is today, and it would be her “honour” to open more doors for others like her.

Kaur said that, in her new role, she would bring innovation and science to transform the economy and society, but with inclusion.

In advice to young girls, she said: “Do not try to fit in.”

I wasted a lot of my time trying to fit in.

Dr Parwinder Kaur

“Especially when you come to a new country, you try a lot to fit in, but it is a beautiful country, and the sky is the limit when it comes to opportunities. Dream! Dare to dream and walk on those pathways.”

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