Australia’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, recently visited New Delhi to address rising concerns over anti-India protests and the subsequent attacks faced by the Indian community in Australia. During her visit, Minister Aly met with Kiren Rijiju, India’s Minister for Minority Affairs, and engaged with various multifaith leaders. She also paid her respects at significant sites for the Indian diaspora, including the Birla Temple, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, and Jama Masjid.
Highlighting the strong community ties, Aly stated, “With nearly one million Australians of Indian ancestry now residing in Australia, these community linkages remain a vital pillar of the bilateral relationship,” in an interview with The Indian Express. Aly, who was born in Egypt and moved to Sydney at the age of two, is also noted as the first Muslim woman to be elected to the federal Parliament.
Her visit came in the wake of several anti-immigrant demonstrations and violent incidents targeting the Indian diaspora in Australia. These incidents included vandalism with hateful graffiti, racial slurs, and physical assaults against Indian students and community establishments.
A Stance on Diversity and Inclusivity
Addressing the Australian government’s approach to anti-immigrant sentiments, Aly asserted, “Every Australian — regardless of their background; their faith, their heritage — has the right to feel safe, respected, and welcome. Cultural diversity is not just part of our national identity; it’s one of our greatest attributes.” She further mentioned that Australian leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, had condemned the “divisive rhetoric” accompanying these protests.
Quoting Prime Minister Albanese, Aly added, “You’re welcome here. You make our country stronger by being here.” She also acknowledged the global challenge of pluralism facing pressure, noting that the Australian government is proactively working to counter divisive narratives, online harms, and foreign interference, reflecting a broad Australian belief in multiculturalism.
Recent Incidents Highlight Concerns
Recent events underscore the sensitive nature of these issues. In Melbourne, the Shree Swaminarayan Temple and two nearby Asian restaurants were defaced with offensive graffiti in July. The vandalism at the Boronia temple included the slur “Go home brown c***.” Simultaneously, an Indian student in Adelaide was reportedly assaulted by a group of men following a parking dispute, with the attackers allegedly using racial slurs against him.