Anthony Albanese Goes Sikh By James Reed

Just like his mate, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, PM Albo donned a turban at a Sikh event. No doubt he was well meaning, but the turban or dastār, is an important part of Sikh identity. As explained at Wikipedia, something the Prime Minister needs to get familiar with:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dastar

"Among the Sikhs, the dastār is an article of faith that represents equality, honour, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. The Khalsa Sikh men and women, who keep the Five Ks, wear the turban to cover their long, uncut hair (kesh). The Sikhs regard the dastār as an important part of the unique Sikh identity. After the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadur, was sentenced to death by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru created the Khalsa and gave five articles of faith, one of which is unshorn hair, which the dastār covers."

The case could be made that a non-Sikh, wearing the dastār is actually showing disrespect, pretending to be something that he is not. But what else is new?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13280801/Anthony-Albanese-Sikh-turban-Melbourne.html

"The Prime Minister has joined in the celebrations of the Sri Lankan New year by honouring a decade of 'extraordinary' volunteer work by the Sikh community.

Sikh Volunteers Australia have marked 10 years of helping Aussies in need during natural disasters by delivering food and support to those in crisis.

Anthony Albanese visited Casey, in southeast Melbourne, on Sunday to celebrate Sikh Vaisakhi alongside Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Bruce MP Julian Hill.

Mr Albanese also donned a turban to mark the occasion of the Sikh Volunteers celebrating the milestone of service to the community.

'They do extraordinary work,' Mr Albanese said.

'During the pandemic they provided food for students who were in desperate need for that support. During the bushfires, during floods.

'Wherever there are issues confronting Australians, we see the best of the Australian character and there's no community organisation that has done more than Sikh Volunteers Australia.

'We see them whether it be here in Victoria, or up in Lismore, wherever there are floods or natural weather events, we see people putting their values into practice by providing that support to their fellow Australians who are in need.'

Mr Hill said the Sikh Volunteers Australia had become a welcome sight to many communities impacted by natural disasters.

'(They have) become beloved to Australians, not just here in Victoria, but in New South Wales and across the country for living their values and helping out time after time in natural disasters, the weekly food vans,' he said.

It comes as the volunteer group most likely is preparing to head off to flood affected areas in NSW following massive rainfall in recent days.

Mr Albanese said disaster assistance has since been made available for the 13 local government areas around the Illawarra, Shellharbour Wollongong area.

The Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury area and in other areas that have been severely impacted by these flooding events will also be eligible for the funding.