The concern about GST is not simply about paying tax. It is about whether ordinary people can clearly see, understand and verify what they are being asked to pay.
If a product is advertised at Nu. 1,000 but GST is added only at the point of payment, the advertised price is not the actual price. That creates confusion, makes comparison difficult and can place an additional burden on households already managing their budgets carefully.
Having read The Bhutanese article dated 15/08/2026 titled Both sides prepare for legal battle over AUD 261,000 fund, I find myself more inclined to support Kalu Rinpoche’s position in this dispute. This is not because I believe every allegation made against the couple has already been proven, but because the issues raised about the management, governance and accounting of the Druk Community Center Australia (DCCA) deserve serious and independent scrutiny.
The dispute over approximately AUD 261,000 connected to the proposed Druk Community Centre in Perth has raised serious concerns within the Bhutanese Australian community.
The issue became public after Kalu Rinpoche posted a TikTok video accusing a Bhutanese couple involved in organising the Buddha relic tour in Australia of failing to hand over funds he says were raised for the centre. The couple deny the allegations and, according to reports, have engaged legal advisers and are considering defamation proceedings.
The recent Kuensel article, "Bhutanese diaspora fears loss of cultural identity", raises a concern that deserves discussion. However, it is important to recognize the difference between reporting individual opinions and presenting evidence of a widespread community issue.
Like many others, I first became aware of the incident through videos circulating on social media. My initial reaction was one of shock and sadness. As an educator, it was difficult to watch children experiencing fear, humiliation, and violence at the hands of their peers. While the videos themselves were confronting, what disturbed me more was the possibility that they represented a deeper issue rather than an isolated event.