Indian Australians feel left out of migration debate despite holding key voter power

Migrant Concerns

Melbourne high school teacher Kusum Mirchandani has lived in Australia for over twenty years. She noticed a clear shift when nationwide anti-immigration rallies used promotional material that singled out Indian migrants. Mirchandani says the rallies target the Indian community simply because it is now the country's largest migrant population. She calls this unfair and notes it makes her feel hurt and upset. Australia's Indian-born population overtook British-born residents last year to become the nation's largest migrant group. This shift coincides with a louder political immigration debate, as Labor, the Coalition, and One Nation unveil plans to cut net overseas migration.

Election Polling

Redbridge polling shows state Labor holds a marginal lead against the Liberal party among Indian Australians ahead of next month's state election. That lead grows even wider when voters choose between the incumbent party and One Nation. Kos Samaras, a former Labor strategist and director at Redbridge, says surveys show Labor holds a marginal lead ranging from 53 to 56 percent on a two-party preferred basis among Victorians of Indian ancestry. Against One Nation, that lead widens to 70-30. Samaras explains that Indian Australians provide a base helping Labor protect its safest seats in electorates with significant Indian populations. He links the wider lead over One Nation to the ongoing national immigration debate. Satish Devarakonda, a 49-year-old technology consultant in Melbourne's east, describes the immigration debate as a short-term kneejerk reaction. He remains pessimistic about the economy, stating the state has not recovered from the Covid slump after six years. Devarakonda identifies cost of living and the Victorian economy as dominant issues. He notes that travel to India to see his parents is a necessity rather than a luxury, though it has taken a backseat due to recent pressures.

Political Fallout

Samaras points to controversial comments from federal Coalition senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price as sending a strong signal that Indian Australians are unwelcome. Price had claimed federal Labor promoted migration by specific ethnic groups, including Indians, to grow its electoral support. Samaras adds that socially conservative and aspirational Indian voters often feel reluctant to vote Liberal because they feel unwelcome. In Victoria, the state Liberal party also faced fractures after preselecting Dinesh Gourisetty for an upper house ticket before dumping him over a court character reference he wrote. Despite such fractures, Samaras notes the Victorian Coalition's plan to expand select-entry high schools in outer suburbs is culturally targeted to the Indian constituency, catching Labor flat-footed.

Context

Migrant communities in multicultural nations often become central to political debates during periods of economic strain and housing pressure. Political parties frequently balance calls to restrict migration with the need to win over growing diaspora populations who prioritize education, healthcare, and cost-of-living issues.