THE Rise Up Australia Party arrived in Wyndham last week with a clear message: Australia must have only a Christian culture.
The new political party has spent the past few months campaigning around the country in the hope of drumming up enough support so it can contest the September 14 federal election.
Wyndham Community and Education Centre chief executive Jennie Barrera said the party’s message was disappointing because Wyndham was a multifaith city which embraced diversity.
“Networks such as the Wyndham Humanitarian Network and the Wyndham Interfaith Network, auspiced by the centre, play an important role in reinforcing Wyndham’s reputation as a welcoming home to new residents, of diverse ethnic and faith backgrounds.”
Rise Up Australia has a significant following in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with leader Pastor Daniel Nalliah’s Catch the Fire Ministry based in Hallam.
Many of those at the party’s western suburbs launch last Friday, which was also attended by climate change sceptic Lord Christopher Monckton, had travelled from the east.
The gathering began with the party’s song – which promoted its main belief that Australia could be home to many ethnicities but could only have a Judeo-Christian culture – and the waving of Australian flags.
Mr Nalliah told the crowd he was not afraid to promote Christianity because Australia needed him to do so. “We need to protect our Judeo-Christian heritage. With God as our head we will never fail as a nation.”
Mr Nalliah will stand as the party’s number one senate candidate.
