Australian Yatra United, a WhatsApp group, was created on 25 May 2025 to give the devotees and congregation members of ISKCON temples in Australia an opportunity to voice their concerns about the current mis-management in those temples.

This Petition is a summary of the comprehensive discussions that took place regarding the ISKCON Melbourne Temple mis-management.

The Petition's objective is to highlight these issues to the ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) Executive Committee and seek their assistance to bring about remedial changes that would ensure independent oversight and control, transparency in all activities, separation of responsibility and accountability, facilitation of devotee and congregation members' participation, and support expansion of Lord Chaitanya's Hare Krishna movement.

Yours In Srila Prabhupada's service

Purusottama das (TKG)

“ UPDATE  5 November 2026

Several email letters have been sent to the Executive Committee of the Iskcon Governing Body Commission (GBC) raising the matters contained in the Petition. A couple of short acknowledgments of receipt of the emails were received by the Petition Starter, but no indication of any action or intended action taken by the Executive Committee. More than 18 months have elapsed. The Petition will remain open until the Executive Committee of the GBC takes satisfactory steps to resolve all matters contained in the Petition. 
I thank you all for showing support and encourage you to obtain more signatures for this Petition, using whatever platforms you have access to.

In Srila Prabhupada’s service 

Purusottama das (TKG) “ 

End of Update.

PETITION

We, the signatories of this petition, are bonafide congregation members of the ISKCON Melbourne Temple in our capacity as any one or more of the following - devotees, donors, well-wishers, employees and volunteers.

We, the Petitioners, have noted the following in regards to the ISKCON Melbourne Temple and its administration.

1) During the presidency of the current Melbourne Temple President (last 35 years)

a) there has been no disclosure of full financial reports ever to the congregation members, 

b) there has been no transparency about how the management team is selected and appointed and what they are paid,

c) there has been disregard and inaction about the views and complaints of the congregation,

d) there has been victimisation of those congregation members who have spoken up or differed from the management,

e) there has been no future planning for the Melbourne Temple and its maintenance needs have been neglected, and 

f) there are no accumulated funds and the temple is running at a loss.

2) The matters contained under item 1) above were referred in greater detail to the two GBC’s for Australia by some members of the congregation.  No comprehensive response has been received so far.

The PETITIONERS therefore request the assistance of the ISKCON GBC in correcting/addressing the above issues, and further laying down guidelines (or rules) that would enable, encourage and ensure participation by the congregational members in any future process for appointing the Temple President and his management team at the Melbourne Temple.

(End of Petition)