“HUGE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE”
“In 2014, the Indian diaspora community in Australia was relatively small,” said Teesta Prakash from the Australia India Institute.
“But in 2026, it is now the largest diaspora community within Australia. It has outstripped the British, which is a huge demographic change,” she told AFP.
Modi is set to receive a rock-star welcome when he fronts a community rally at a stadium in Melbourne later on Thursday, with organisers anticipating more than 20,000 people could flock to the event.
But Modi’s visit is also expected to stir up opposition, including criticism that he has fostered a dangerous brand of Hindu nationalism at home.
Australia’s Alliance Against Islamophobia said it would protest outside the stadium event, drawing attention to what it said was the persecution of minority groups in India.
A separate protest against Indian migration to Australia is also planned.
Modi is scheduled to fly to New Zealand after Australia.
