Dear Supporters,

As the petition for a public and unconditional apology continues to rise, we read that Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has "apologised for any offence taken". Quoting an article from SBS https://www.sbs.com.au/news/josh-frydenberg-apologises-for-controversial-hindu-joke

“The butt of the joke was Labor’s Jim Chalmers and his thought bubble of a wellbeing budget. No offence was intended but of course I apologise for any offence taken,” he said in a statement to SBS Hindi.

I'm not sure about you but in my humble opinion this is typical politician speak for "I'm not accountable for my actions" or in modern terminology "sorry not sorry". I'm pretty sure that in 2020 we should have moved past jokes about the religion, culture, lifestyle choices of "the other". I'm also sure that, had another politician stood up in Parliament and "joked" about Judaism in a speech directed at Frydenberg, there would rightly be a public outcry for resignation.

Frydenberg has sent a written statement directly to Hindus, but not apologised to the millions of other Australians offended by his ridicule and intolerance last week towards Yogis, Buddhists, Hare Krishna followers, and any of us who follow a spiritual and natural health and wellness path.

Many signatories here have commented that Frydenberg, and indeed all politicians could benefit from practising wellness/yoga/meditation as part of their daily life. Just imagine how different "leadership" would look then.

I shall continue to push for a public and unconditional apology from Frydenberg and include the words here from a signatory who left this comment on the petition, which goes to explaining why it is important to keep up the pressure.

"Apart from being an affront to the Hindu religion (which is quite something due to Josh's hair trigger for acting against anti-Semitic remarks), the disparaging manner he describes essential practices for our society. Yoga and meditation. We have such a high incidence of depression and health issue which these practices are confirmed as helping. It’s juvenile and unbecoming as a leader in our community"
 
Please help me by continuing to share this petition and letting people know how a high ranking Member of Parliament, paid for by the public purse, went on a culturally insensitive bigoted rant on the floor of Parliament last week, much to the amusement of the Liberal and National MPs around him.

With love and gratitude

Judith T 

(Yogi, Humanitarian, Intolerant of Intolerance and Bigotry, Ethical Business Owner)