Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
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SPORT
Growing pains Demolition is set to start at Dandenong’s iconic Little India precinct as part of a $600 million revitalisation. However, trader Steve Khan, pictured, says many existing shops had moved and were unlikely to be part of the area’s bold future. More on the story, turn to page 4
(Gary Sissons: 538590)
Mourning rebuke A Dandenong mosque has implored for the restoration of a $670,000 grant, which was cancelled by the Federal Government after the centre mourned the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Taha Association Centre bore heavy national criticism for the mourning service for the leader, who was assassinated during the escalating conflict between United States/Israel and Iran. On 4 March, Multicultural Affairs Minister
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Anne Aly announced the grant’s cancellation due to “social cohesion concerns”. In a statement last week, Taha described the service as a “sincere religious gathering”. “It was an act of faith. It was not political and it should not be framed as such.” Its patrons are largely the Afghan-Australian and Hazara community who themselves had fled Afghanistan out of fear of persecution by the Taliban.
“Families amongst us have lost dozens of loved ones to the very extremism we are now being associated with.” Bruce MP and Multicultural Affairs assistant minister Julian Hill, who had pledged the funding in last year’s federal election, said mourning “this tyrant” was “offensive to the majority of Australians”. “There have always been limits to cultural expression in Australia, and religious practice does
not justify all actions. “The Minister’s decision to not proceed with the commitment in light of social cohesion concerns is really difficult for the Association but justified in the circumstances.” Last week, the Victorian Government announced it was investigating if $149,380 of state funding to Taha in 2022 was appropriately spent. More on the story, turn to page 3