Melton should not be turned into a “battleground” to protest against five-year-olds going to school, Melton MP Don Nardella says.
A Reclaim Australia rally, initially scheduled to be held in Melbourne’s CBD this weekend, will be redirected to Melton this weekend because of concerns about “the spread of Islam” after an Islamic school and mosque were approved for the municipality.
Mr Nardella said protesting against a primary school was “abominable”, and he urged those involved to not cause division in his electorate.
“I’m really upset – this is affecting my community who don’t want these rallies,” he said.
“There are families who planned to have a family barbecue at Hannah Watts Park but won’t be able to because of these rallies.”
Haji Mohamad Rashid, of the Melton Muslim Community group, said he was deeply saddened by the “unnecessary and unprovoked” anti-Islamic rally planned for Melton.
“We respect the group’s rights to protest, but we’re really concerned about the repercussions of the protest, especially to the ladies who have a hijab [head scarf] on,” Mr Rashid said.
“We’re a low-profile community here in Melton. We don’t do anything to harm people or antagonise them.”
Police concerns
Victoria Police’s Acting Commander Debra Abbott confirmed that police officers would be “closely monitoring” the rally.
“We respect the right of the community to express their views peacefully and lawfully, but we will not tolerate people breaking the law,” she said. “Urging violence and hatred within our community is not a form of free speech and will not be tolerated.
“Every Victorian has the right to feel safe and secure in the community and in pursuing their values, beliefs and interests. We are equipped and well-prepared to respond and intervene where needed.”
Islamic school ‘a welcome addition’
A spokeswoman for Victoria University, whose Melton campus will host the new Islamic school, said some students had used social media to “deplore” the opposition to the new school.
“VU believes the [Islamic] school will be a welcome addition to the educational landscape in Melton and will help to add an additional dimension to the region’s diversity,” she said.
“Students and staff have expressed disappointment that a few individuals have not joined the community in welcoming a new education provider to support an area with rich cultural diversity.”
There were earlier plans for Melton Specialist School, which is chronically overcrowded, to move to the university’s Melton campus.
But Mr Nardella said that was not a financially viable option. Instead, the state government would look at rebuilding the school at its current Coburns Road site.
