Varun Ghosh made history on Tuesday as he took oath on the Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita, becoming the first-ever Australian Senator to do so. The Indian-origin Australian Senator filled the vacancy left by Pat Dadson, hailed as the “father of reconciliation,” according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister and Senate leader Penny Wong warmly welcomed Ghosh to the team, sharing snapshots from the ceremony on X.
“Welcome to Varun Ghosh, our newest Senator from Western Australia. Senator Ghosh is the first ever Australian Senator sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita. I have often said, when you’re the first at something, you’ve got to make sure you’re not the last,” Wong expressed on X, adding, “I know Senator Ghosh will be a strong voice for his community and for West Australians. Wonderful to have you on the Labor Senate team.”
Varun Ghosh, a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, is of Indian descent. His parents, both doctors, migrated from India to Australia in the 1980s. Ghosh joined the Labor party in Perth at the age of 17, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.
Having worked in commercial and administrative law, as well as industrial relations and employment law, Ghosh holds an honours degree in law and arts from the University of Western Australia, where he served on the Guild Council as chair and guild secretary. He also earned a master’s degree in law from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
Reflecting on his selection to the Senate in December 2023, Ghosh emphasized the importance of accessible education, stating, “I have had the privilege of a good education and believe strongly that high quality education and training should be available to everyone,” as reported by the SMH.
