Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised the “warmth of the Indian people” and described Indian Australians as an integral part of modern Australia, using a speech in Canberra to underscore the growing importance of Australia’s relationship with India.
Speaking at Parliament House during the 40th anniversary celebration of the Australia-India Business Council, Albanese said the strong parliamentary presence at the event reflected the significance his government places on ties with India and the Indian Australian community.
“One of the things I found, above everything else, is the warmth of the Indian people, and that’s the basis, the diaspora here,” Albanese said.
The Prime Minister noted that Indian Australians have played a major role in building businesses, creating jobs and strengthening links between the two countriesPM
Albanese also reflected on his personal experiences in India, recalling backpacking trips across the country in the early 1990s. He spoke about travelling by train and bus, visiting cities including Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Udaipur, as well as visiting the Akshardham Temple.
He said those experiences gave him a deeper understanding of India beyond formal diplomacy and encouraged Australian lawmakers to connect directly with the country and its people.
“If you want to visit India, forget the High Commission and what they’ll tell you to do. Get on a train, and you’ll meet Indian people, hear stories, be welcomed and be fed,” he said.
The Prime Minister also recalled his 2023 visit to Gujarat, where he attended the fourth Test match at Narendra Modi Stadium alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Albanese described the experience as a reflection of the strong spirit and friendship between Australians and Indians.
His remarks come as Australia and India continue expanding cooperation in trade, defence, education, clean energy, technology and people-to-people connections.
Albanese said there had never been a better time to strengthen economic engagement with India, citing its growing economy, democratic system and emerging strengths in sectors including medical research, artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced technology.
He also highlighted the role of Indian businesses operating in Australia, including Tata Group.
During the event, Albanese announced a $200,000 Maitri grant from the Centre for Australia India Relations to support the AIBC in promoting stronger business ties between the two nations.
Looking ahead, he said he was anticipating further engagement with the Indian Australian community during Modi’s expected future visit to Australia.
Albanese also addressed migration, rejecting divisions between migrants and Australian-born Australians, while emphasising the importance of social unity.
He said modern Australia would be “hard to imagine” without the Indian community and praised the AIBC for its role in helping build stronger relations between the two countries over the past four decades.