Why Is Australia Protesting Against Indian Immigration?

With the recent Bondi Beach attack, one thing became very apparent: Australians don’t seem too welcoming of Indian immigrants in Australia. This issue is becoming more and more common across various countries, especially in the Anglosphere, where anti-Indian racism seems to be growing. But what exactly has led to this sudden surge in protests against Indian immigrants to Australia? What exactly can immigrants expect living in a country where the people don’t want them anymore, and what can the native population do to learn to live more harmoniously? In this blog, we will try to learn why the ‘stop Indian immigration Australia’ movement has gained so much traction in recent years. 

Background: Indian Immigration To Australia

Australia is home to one of the highest Indian immigrants in the world. Indian diaspora is already the largest there is, and Australia remains a top choice for Indian expats, as there are over 900,000 Indian-born residents currently living in Australia. The influx of Indian immigrants to Australia every year is in the tens of thousands. The 2023-24 session saw more than 80,000 Indians settle in Australia, which was lower than the over 100,000 figure of the previous year. 

A study of Aboriginal DNA suggests that the native Australian population might have interbred with Indian origin thousands of years ago. This means that the connections between India and Australia run deep, and the recent rise in Indian immigration is nothing new. Since both India and Australia were part of the British Empire, a lot of Indian convicts were sent to prisons in Australia. The first recorded incident of this kind happened in 1788, which means there are Indian origin people in Australia with roots dating back more than 200 years. 

For the first six decades of the 20th century, the Australian government implemented the racially motivated ‘White Australia’ policy, which forbade anyone of non-European origin from migrating to the country. Not only did this stop Australia Indian immigration, but it also led to the Indian origin population declining to a very low level. 

Roles Played By Indian Immigrants In Australia

As home to one of the highest Indian immigrants in the world, Australia is a notable destination for Indian expats, as it seems like a lot of skilled workers opt to settle in Australia. In fact, over 54% of Indian immigrants in Australia have a college-level degree, making them the most educated ethnic group in the country. Here are some of the prominent roles played by Indian immigrants to Australia. 

• High Academic Participation:- 

One of the main driving forces behind Australian Indian immigration is the high quality of universities in Australia. Many Indian students come to Australia every year to study, and some of them decide to settle in the country.

• Workforce Participation:-

 If you take a look at sectors like healthcare, IT, consultancy, and professional services, then you will find that a large number of Indian immigrants in Australia occupy these jobs. Australia offers high-paying job opportunities that seem to attract participation from the Indian resident diaspora. 

• Key Industries:-

 Most Indian immigrants to Australia can be found working as an engineer, software developer, registered nurse, doctor, accountant, chef, or convenience store owner. It is worth noting that most Indian immigrants seem to be involved in the service sector rather than the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. 

• Entrepreneurship and Taxation:-

 A large portion of the land down under’s tax revenues comes from Indian immigrants in Australia. They are the second-highest tax-paying ethnicity, just behind the UK-born community. Plus, Indians have exhibited a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and are contributing to job creation in the country. 

• Bilateral Trade:-

 The Indian diaspora is vital to the massive $24 billion bilateral trade between the two countries. Tourism, industry, import and export, etc., contribute to the blossoming economic relations between the two countries as a result of Indian immigration. 

• Political Participation:-

 Prominent political figures like Dave Sharma (Federal Senator), Gurmesh Singh (NSW MP), Zaneta Mascarenhas (Labor MP), Varun Ghosh (WA Senator), and Daniel Mookhey (NSW Treasurer) are descendants of Indian immigrants to Australia. In fact, it might not be long before Australia has an Indian-origin Prime Minister like the UK once had. 

Why Is The “Stop Indian Immigration Australia” Movement Gaining Popularity?

Now, let’s address the main issue of today’s blog: Why do Australians want Indians out of their country? That sounds harsh, but think about it for a second. There must be a deep-seated reason why Aussies feel like Indians threaten them. Even if that’s not the case, there must be something that Indian immigrants to Australia do that they might perceive as disrespectful. Nevertheless, let us try to understand why Australia, the country with one of the highest Indian immigrants in the world is now protesting against the Indian community. 

1. “Indians are Taking Our Jobs”:- 

A common motivator behind the ‘stop Indian immigration Australia’ movement has to be the increasing prominence of Indians in the Aussie job market. Many natives feel threatened by the sporadic growth of Indian-origin professionals in their country. However, most immigrants, as we have discussed, are already skilled and highly educated. So it makes sense why they are being hired more frequently. 

• Bondi Beach Terror Attack:-

 The recent attack on Sydney’s Bondi Beach (date: September 14th, 2025) left 15 people dead and nearly 40 wounded. The tragic incident added fuel to the fire of anti-Indian sentiment as one of the perpetrators, who was the father of the other accused, was born an Indian national. This led to a rise in protests against Indian immigration as many conservatives argued that immigrants don’t respect the harmony of the country they have settled in. 

• Rise in Racial Discrimination:-

 Recent online trends would suggest that Indians are being ridiculed all across social media. This new wave of racial hatred has led to many younger people being indoctrinated into this culture of hatred and propagating prejudice because of commonly held stereotypes. This might pose a significant risk to future Australian Indian immigration, as many current immigrants might begin feeling unsafe and unwelcome in their new country. 

• Behavior Perceived as ‘Uncivilised’:- 

Lastly, some people perceive Indian cultural values and behavior as ‘uncivilised.’ It is mostly because their values are so radically different that it can induce culture shock, but it is a notable cause that drives the ‘Stop Indian immigration Australia’ movement. Even if many protestors don’t openly describe Indian culture and traditions as ‘uncivilised.’

Are Protests Against Australia Indian Immigration Justified?

Now it is time that we think rationally about this controversial issue: Are the Aussie people right in protesting against Indian immigration to Australia? It is worth noting that every Indian immigrant requires an Indian police clearance certificate for Australian immigration. If you don’t know what that is, then it is a certificate required by Indian immigrants to Australia that serves as proof that any individual who lived in India for 12 months over the past 10 years does not have a criminal record. 

This is a document that the perpetrator of the Bondi Beach attack possessed, but he still ended up committing such a heinous act. So, while an Indian police clearance certificate for Australian immigration is not a surefire way to know whether an immigrant is likely to perpetrate violent acts, it can still be used to know about a person’s past history. 

Regardless of crime, the other justifications given by protestors, such as the job crisis, the rent crisis, and the rising cost of accommodation, don’t qualify as Australia-exclusive problems. The rise of Indian immigrants in Australia has definitely increased the population of the country and brought about problems that population growth brings; however, the majority of Indians face the same problems in their homeland. They don’t come to Australia to bring their problems with them; they come here because they want a country where more of their brethren reside and where they can still find a community that experiences less discomfort than they did in their home country.

How Can Indian Immigrants To Australia Live Peacefully With The Natives?

Whether there are protests against the Indian community or not, one thing’s for certain: Indian immigrants in Australia have to live harmoniously with the local population. The responsibility for maintaining harmony doesn’t fall solely on the shoulders of Indian expats, but here are some ways both sides can mitigate their differences and learn to live peacefully. 

• Respect the Local Culture:-

Indian immigrants to Australia have to respect the local customs and traditions of the Aussie people. There is nothing wrong with being proud of and partaking in one’s own culture, but as the saying goes, ‘When you are in Rome, you have to do things the Romans’ way.’ Immigrants have to let the locals participate in their culture, which they can keep separate from their own traditions. 

• Respect the Immigrants’ Culture:-

 Australia is home to one of the highest Indian immigrants in the world, so it’s the responsibility of the locals to respect the culture of the people who have settled in their country as well. They respect your country enough to call it their home; now it should be their duty to let them be and not interfere with their activities unless it actively causes harm to someone. 

• Celebrate Joint Cultural Heritage:- 

As we discussed earlier, the ties between India and Australia go back many years. Indian origin residents and local Australians can come together to celebrate the fruits of Australia Indian immigration and the cultural relations that the people of these countries share with each other. 

• Participation in National Unity Programs:-

 Whether someone is of Indian origin or native Australian origin, they are both living on the soil of the Australian continent. They should feel a shared sense of duty towards their country, cutting across lines of ethnicity, origin, and religion, and other barriers. 

• Building Tolerance Within Oneself:- 

The ‘Stop Indian immigration Australia’ movement can only be ended with tolerance and brotherhood, which a person can develop within themself. Both expats and locals should learn to be more tolerant of each other and honor the traditions they share. 

Conclusion

In the end, we live on a beautiful planet that is populated by all kinds of people. It doesn’t matter what religion, culture, country, or ethnicity we have; we are all equal children of Mother Earth. Sadly, political issues can erect barriers between the various people living in this world. However, to be more precise, Indian immigration to Australia is not likely to slow down unless the government implements some strict Visa policies. Over time, they might have to do that because of environmental concerns, but rest assured, people will stay together peacefully, and hopefully, they can mitigate their differences and live together as responsible residents of Australia.