MELBOURNE, 11 September 2024: Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan MP, and Multicultural Minister Ingrid Stitt MP, today met Indian community representatives at Parliament House, after question time. The gathering of the diverse Indian community, spread out into more than a hundred community organisations of migrants from different Indian states, regions and faiths, assembled for a session of interaction with Victoria’s ruling political leadership. There were a few Labor MPs also rubbing shoulders with the attendees.
The fact the Indian community in Victoria is the country’s biggest has increased its clout across the state. Many suburbs are quite Indian looking and there is no dearth of artists from India performing, and Indian movies getting regular releases in cinemas. One cannot forget the massive success of the recently held 15th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The Premier will be in India soon (around the middle of September) and her interaction with the community here should be seen in that context.
This is Premier Jacinta’s first foreign visit after replacing the three times Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Addressing the gathering the Premier talked about the warm relations between Australia and India, and the possibility of launching a revamped India strategy.
Despite the recent Federal government caps on international students, the Premier assured Victoria is all set to welcome Indian international students, who’s number in Victoria is the highest.
“Victoria is proud to be the top destination of Indian overseas students and they were making big contribution to the state’s economy. Indian students and from across the world are welcome to Victoria. Trade, investment and culture are also on our agenda and will launch the fresh India strategy during the visit to India.”
The issue of tackling violence against women also came up and it was demanded that the anti-dowery laws of Victoria be made Australia wide. Someone demanded more funding for those NGO’s grappling with domestic-violence issues.
The Premier will be giving the Australia India Institute Oration in New Delhi and inaugurating the University of Melbourne’s Hub at the Baba Kharak Singh Marg (New Delhi). There might be a few more things happening during the short visit.
The Multicultural Minister Ingrid Stitt said, Victoria was proud of the largest Indian Diaspora here. This, she said, made Victoria a special place and the Indian community’s contribution was not just economic but cultural also.
