Is the PM favouring Indian migrants? THIS controversial book ignited national discussion

A slender book resting on Anthony Albanese's desk has ignited a political storm that few expected.

The debates it sparked have reached beyond Parliament, stirring tension in communities across the country.

For Indian Australians, the controversy has felt intensely personal.

As of June 2024, 916,000 people born in India lived in Australia—making them the second-largest overseas-born group after England in a nation where 8.6 million of 27.2 million residents were born overseas.

This represented roughly one in every 30 Australians with Indian heritage, signalling a transformation visible in suburban restaurants, workplaces, and federal elections.

The author of the book, Dr Andrew Charlton, also the Prime Minister's Cabinet Secretary, argued in #Australia's Pivot to India that strengthening ties with India was more than good policy—it was a 'national imperative.'

His discussion of the community's economic, cultural, and political influence landed amid one of Australia's most contentious political debates.

Rising political tensions and protests

The debate turned volatile following nationwide anti-immigration rallies, which displayed disturbing neo-Nazi symbolism and targeted Indian Australians.

Political tensions worsened when Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price suggested Labour was deliberately favouring Indian migrants to secure votes.

Despite attempts to clarify her remarks, the comments exposed raw nerves about immigration and the political influence of growing communities.

Voting patterns and their implications

Voting patterns added fuel to the fire.

Polling expert Kos Samaras estimated that up to 85 per cent of Indian Australians in certain regions had supported Labour in the last federal election, prompting accusations of electoral advantage.

Charlton cited a Carnegie Endowment survey showing 43 per cent identified with Labour, compared with 26 per cent for the Coalition, attributing the support to Labour’s historical emphasis on diversity and strength in outer suburban areas.

Experts warned that support was not permanent.

Samaras noted second and third-generation migrants often shifted towards the Coalition, reflecting patterns in other established communities.

The human cost of controversy

The human cost was evident for many.

Indian Australian entrepreneur Divesh Sareen, who had lived in Australia since 2008, said the protests had shaken him: 'I actually never thought this kind of thing would happen in Australia.'

He explained that incidents like these made him question his safety in public spaces.

'When you define the word 'Australian', I've taken my oath, I've got an Australian passport, it's something I'm proud to call myself,' Sareen said.

'But then when things like this happen, you feel like I'll never be good enough to belong.'

His experience reflected the anxiety of a community contributing significantly to Australian society while navigating questions of identity.

The history of Indian migration

Indian migration to Australia was not sudden.

Numbers had surged in the 1990s due to skilled worker and international student programs, with the Indian-born population increasing by 48 per cent between 2016 and 2021, largely under Coalition governments.

The proportion of Australians born overseas rose from 30.7 per cent in 2023 to 31.5 per cent in 2024, highlighting both global migration trends and Australia's demand for skilled workers.

Economic ties and bilateral agreements

Charlton, chair of the Parliamentary Friends of India group, emphasised the growth reflected economic needs rather than political manipulation.

Mobility agreements with India facilitated skills exchange, addressing labour shortages while strengthening bilateral ties.

The debate surrounding #Australia's Pivot to India revealed how rapid demographic changes were reshaping communities, economies, and electoral maps.

Successful migration required both economic opportunity and social cohesion, not just management of numbers.

For Indian Australians caught in political crossfire, the stakes were deeply personal—they were neighbours, colleagues, and fellow citizens whose contributions extended far beyond voting patterns.

What steps can Australia take to ensure all communities feel secure and valued in a rapidly changing nation?