'Hard To Imagine Modern Australia Without The Indian Community,' Says PM Anthony Albanese
- Staff Writer
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has delivered one of his most pointed tributes to the Indian community this week.
PM Albanese used both a landmark business council anniversary and Question Time in Parliament to celebrate the Indian diaspora's contribution to Australia, and to draw a hard line against what he called the Opposition's divisive approach to migration.
On Monday evening, Albanese attended the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Australia India Business Council at Parliament House in Canberra.
The milestone event brought together business and government leaders from both countries to mark four decades of economic and cultural ties. And, in Parliament on Tuesday, Albanese made clear just how much weight he attaches to what it represents.
We Are Also An Indian Ocean Nation, Says PM Anthony Albanese
"Since it was created by Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Rajiv Gandhi (in 1986), the AIBC has added focus and momentum to one of Australia's great international relationships," he told the House. "This is one built on friendship, respect and mutual benefit."
The Prime Minister spoke of India's trajectory with a sense of genuine urgency. India, he noted, already holds the world's largest population, and is on track to become the third largest economy within this decade. "That is an extraordinary opportunity for us in our region," he said. "We're a Pacific nation, but we are also an Indian Ocean nation as well."
He also reflected on his own history with the country - first visiting as a backpacker in 1991, travelling by video bus and train. "If you want to understand India, get on a video bus or a train. It is a wonderful experience to see firsthand the warmth that is there."
Those visits have continued at the highest level. Albanese has now been to India twice as Prime Minister, and is preparing to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Australia later this year. This would be Modi's second visit since Labor took office.
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The Prime Minister said he was looking forward to engagement with the Indian Australian community during the visit.
"It is the largest growing migrant community in Australia," Albanese said in Parliament. "It's a community that has added so much through their love of this country, their spirit of generosity and through generations of hard work and aspiration that have strengthened our economy and enhanced our society."
He pointed specifically to small businesses, to the cultural links the diaspora sustains between Australia and India, and to what he called the deeper meaning of that connection.
"What these great Australians have done in the process has strengthened the important links between this land that is their home and future and the land of their extraordinary heritage. I say to them: we're a better country because of you."
Albanese emphasised that special relationship further in a post on social media. "It's hard to imagine modern Australia without the contributions of our Indian community," the Prime Minister wrote. "Creating jobs. Building businesses. Making our nation stronger and more vibrant."
PM Albanese Slams Opposition For Seeking To Divide
That warmth had a sharper edge when Albanese turned to the Opposition.
In his budget reply last week, Opposition leader Angus Taylor announced plans to strip welfare payments, including, the NDIS, JobSeeker and Family Tax Benefit, from non-citizens, requiring permanent residents to obtain citizenship before accessing benefits they had already been paying taxes toward.
Albanese was blunt about what he thought that signalled. "Angus Taylor, the door isn't open. There's no door. They're in the same room - One Nation and the Liberal Party and the National Party," he said at a press conference.
"There are now three right-wing parties in Australia all advocating policies that aren't in the interests of social cohesion."
He pointed to everyday reality to make the argument. "Go into any hospital here and ask what would happen if we got rid of everyone who works at the Children's Hospital or other hospitals here who wasn't born in Australia, who's a migrant."
"I tell you what, you know, we need to not seek to divide Australians. We need to seek to bring Australians together. That is what my Government works at each and every day, valuing the contribution that people have for Australia. And some of, the contribution of Chinese Australians, Indian Australians, others who been here".
"We need to not seek to divide Australians. We need to seek to bring Australians together."
The Prime Minister also invoked former Liberal Pm John Howard, noting that even his Coalition had once agreed to preference One Nation last. That line has since dissolved.
"Quite clearly the three right-wing parties are getting closer and closer," Albanese said. "Angus Taylor's budget reply was all about fighting One Nation. What I'm about is fighting for our nation - the entire nation."
His government's position, he said, would not shift. "We will reject any attempt to divide."
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