The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has agreed to examine a complaint involving New South Wales’ Multiculturalism Minister, Stephen Kamper, alongside Multicultural NSW. This complaint revolves around concerns linked to a Hindu organization that has been integrated into the state’s Faith Affairs Council.

The primary entities lodging the complaint are the Alliance Against Islamophobia and the Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia (PATCA). This group is dedicated to tackling caste discrimination within South Asian communities.

These organizations argue that both the minister and the associated government body have neglected issues related to caste discrimination and Islamophobia allegedly emanating from the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA), which serves as the main representative body for Hindus in Australia.

Surinder Jain, the vice-chair of the HCA, currently holds a position on the NSW Faith Affairs Council.

The HCA has stated it “acknowledges the rights of all community and faith groups and values the role of the Human Rights Commission in handling complaints and facilitating confidential mediation.” However, the council claims it was unaware of the filed complaint against Kamper.

This situation marks what is believed to be the first instance where the AHRC has accepted a complaint directed at a current minister from NSW or Multicultural NSW.

The AHRC complaint has been made under section 9 of the Racial Discrimination Act, arguing that Kamper and Multicultural NSW engaged in “systemic exclusion of the concerns raised by South Asian Muslim communities and caste-oppressed Hindu communities”.

In September 2025, the Alliance Against Islamophobia lodged a separate AHRC complaint against the HCA, alleging that its president, Sai Paravastu, as well as its head of media, Neelima Paravastu, had reshared Islamophobic posts on X, including one from far-right UK commentator Tommy Robinson that described Muslims as “savages”.

The current complaint against Kamper alleges he continued to appoint a member of the HCA to the Faith Affairs Council despite being aware of the AHRC complaint, “and being provided with materials evidencing anti-Muslim and caste-based discrimination and intimidation”.

The complaint also alleges Multicultural NSW and Kamper “failed to appoint any representative of South Asian Muslim communities or caste-oppressed communities” to the faith council.

Kamper set up the NSW Faith Affairs Council in November 2023. It comprises 12 religious representatives, including those from Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist backgrounds.

According to its website, the council is an independent statutory authority aimed at providing advice to the NSW government on issues relating to religious diversity in the state.

SBS News understands the council has convened during times of social tension in the state, including the Bondi terror attack in December 2025 and the Wakeley church stabbing in 2024.

“We are concerned that the minister has refused to publicly acknowledge caste-based discrimination as a form of harm, despite recognising other forms of racism,” Devibala Palanivel, executive committee member of PATCA, said.

The Human Rights Commission will decide to accept a complaint if it is reasonably arguable that unlawful discrimination has been alleged.

Multiculturalism minister responds to AHRC referral

A spokesperson for Kamper told SBS News they are aware a complaint has been lodged with the AHRC.

“The NSW government is committed to ensuring that all communities feel respected and supported, and discrimination of any kind has no place in NSW,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“Multicultural NSW has met with the organisation that made the complaint on several occasions to hear their concerns and have discussed with them at length the matters they raised.

“This matter is now before the Australian Human Rights Commission and it would be inappropriate to comment further while that process is underway.

“We respect the commission’s process.”

Multicultural NSW referred SBS News to the comments made by Kamper’s office.

The complainants are seeking a range of outcomes, including a formal written apology from Kamper and Multicultural NSW, as well as the removal of the HCA representative from the Faith Affairs Council.

They have also requested the development of an anti-vilification framework within Multicultural NSW, in line with the state’s existing laws, as well as a framework to tackle caste-based discrimination.

Hindu Council of Australia responds to allegations

The HCA told SBS News it had “no knowledge” of the complaint made against Kamper and Multicultural NSW, “as we are not a party and therefore cannot comment”.

“We can confirm that there has been a complaint against the HCA made to the Human Rights Commission by the Alliance Against Islamophobia. That does not mean that any finding has been made against HCA of any kind. It just means that a complaint has been made,” the group said in a written statement.

“The fact that a complaint has been made, by itself, provides no reason at all why HCA should not continue in its public role on the NSW Faith Affairs Council.”

The HCA said it “takes that role very seriously” and remains suitable to carry out that role.

The organisation also said it was ready and willing to participate in the conciliation process.

“Unfortunately, the conciliation scheduled by the AHRC did not proceed because the applicant was unavailable, and HCA was informed of this only the day before the scheduled date. HCA remains open to a conciliation process.”

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