NSW Premier Chris Minns has said he is deeply concerned by reports of an assault on an Indian-Australian man at Westfield Parramatta, including allegations that the attack was racially motivated.
The Australia Today earlier reported that a community figure was allegedly attacked on Monday evening in an incident witnesses described as racially motivated.
“No person in New South Wales should be targeted or intimidated because of their background or identity,” the Premier said.
He expressed the government’s support for the victim and his family, urged anyone with information to assist police, and reiterated that racism has no place in the state.
Minns said he welcomed the NSW Police investigation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring people of all backgrounds feel safe, respected and supported.
NSW Police have arrested Mikayla Smith in connection with the alleged assault. She has been charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Smith appeared before Parramatta Bail Court via video link and was refused bail. The court ordered her transfer to a mental health facility for assessment under section 19B. It was also reported that other unrelated matters previously listed at Bankstown Court — including a charge of contravening a domestic AVO and another assault matter — have now been joined to her Parramatta case.
File Image Mark Coure (Source: Facebook)
Mark Coure, NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Member for Oatley, called it “a shocking incident,” and affirmed his support for the community:
“Every individual, regardless of their cultural background, has the right to feel safe and respected in their community…Racism and violence must be confronted whenever they appear. Looking away only makes things worse, this is something that affects all of us.”
Parramatta NSW MP Donna Davis said she was extremely concerned by the assault and the allegations of racist motivation. She stated that no one in New South Wales should be targeted because of their background and said racism has no place in Parramatta. Davis said she would continue standing with the community to challenge such behaviour, urging anyone who witnesses or experiences hate-related incidents to report them to Crime Stoppers.
Strathfield NSW MP Jason Yat-sen Li said he was deeply troubled by the alleged assault, noting the claim that the victim was targeted because of his ethnicity. He said the incident had caused distress in a region known for its strong multicultural character and emphasised that such attacks harm the broader community.
Yat-sen Li expressed solidarity with the victim and his family, welcomed the police investigation and encouraged anyone with information to come forward. He called on local civic, educational and faith communities to stand together against hatred, adding that his office would work with community leaders to ensure such incidents are not normalised. He said safety, respect and belonging must be upheld for everyone in New South Wales.
Strathfield Australians of Indian Sub-continental Heritage (SAISH) also expressed deep concern about the incident. SAISH called on NSW and Federal parliamentarians to adopt stronger legislative measures to prevent racial violence. The group said all Australians deserve to live, travel and work without fear, and emphasised that strong leadership from both levels of government is essential to building a more equitable, non-discriminatory and socially harmonious Australia.
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