By CEO, Lisa Singh and Head of Communications, Shuba Krishnan for the Sunday Herald Sun
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will travel to India on Sunday on her first trip overseas, as she looks to Vstrengthen Victoria’s ties with the world’s biggest democracy and consolidate Indian diaspora support back at home.
Home to the largest Indian community in Australia, Victoria’s interest in India as a global partner of choice should come as no surprise.
With a two-way trade valued at $2.9bn, the state has fostered strong economic ties with India.
International education, Victoria’s largest export industry, sees Indian students as a significant and vibrant community within its institutions.
Melbourne has also proudly hosted the Indian Film Festival for the past 15 years, celebrating Indian cinema and culture. And the MCG frequently welcomes India’s top cricket stars for international competitions, further cementing the bond.
Premier Allan will be looking to build upon these connections and stake her claim on the success of the Victoria-India relationship for years.
The Premier’s confessed interest in India started 15 years ago as industry and trade minister when she wrote to the then premier about the untapped opportunities India has to offer.
Her choice is in stark contrast to her predecessor, who prioritised China, famously visiting the global superpower seven times while in the top job, and controversially signing a memorandum of understanding on China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
India’s appeal as a key economic partner and its diaspora’s voting power is not lost on leaders across Australia either. Since May 2022, there have been 23 Australian federal community ministerial visits to India, including two by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Despite the thawing of relations with China in recent times, the pandemic years reinforced the need for Australia to diversify, and India presents as an obvious choice.
The largest democracy in the world, a country of 1.4 billion people, is slated to become the world’s thirdbiggest economy by 2030, having experienced a wave of modernisation with huge investment in infrastructure and an expansion of its digital economy.
It’s also set to have the world’s largest workforce in the next decade, with 50% of its population below the age of 25 and more than 65% below the age of 35.
But for state politicians, such overseas visits are less about broader national foreign policy and more about state politics, particularly when dealing with a large and relatively new diaspora.
Premier Allan’s interests are not identical to those of her federal counterparts, and nor should they be.
The Premier is acutely aware of the size and influence of the Indian diaspora in Victoria.
The Indian-born population is the second-largest migrant community in Australia, overtaking Chinese-born residents and behind only those born in England. In Victoria, there are more than 371,000 people of Indian descent, of which around 258,000 were born in India.
Many are based in Melbourne’s south-eastern and northwestern suburbs, with the City of Wyndham home to a 65,433-strong Indian community, followed by the City of Casey with 44,967 Indians.
Australian-Indian migrants are more familiar with the democratic process and generally more politically active, compared to Chinese and Middle Eastern voters.
They have strong family values, are community-minded and are starting to step up to have their say politically.
In the 2022 state election, there were over 30 candidates of Indian background across all political parties including independents.
While the next state election isn’t for another two years, the government knows how important the Indian vote is, and they will not want to waste this opportunity to intensify their outreach efforts and boost their credentials among the state’s Indian diaspora.
One only needs to look at the 2022 marginal seat of Melton as a prime example of politicians putting an enormous amount of energy into getting Indian votes.
The electorate in Melbourne’s west, home to Australia’s largest Hindu temple and attractive to new Indian migrants, saw both parties vigorously courting the community.
Politicians visited the Sri Durga Temple, donned traditional wear and promised tens of thousands of dollars in support of Indian projects all to win this highly influential and aspirational voter base.
Jacinta Allan’s visit to India isn’t just about strengthening Victoria’s economic international ties; it’s to resonate with a pivotal bloc that is starting to shape the local political landscape.
By focusing on issues important to them and positively engaging with their motherland, Premier Allan is positioning herself to be a leader who understands the pulse of her patch and who can in turn become a true champion of Victorian multiculturism.