A Tale of Two Realities

Across the world, the story of Indian migration is unfolding in two sharply different ways. In countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan, governments are opening doors wide, actively inviting Indian students, workers, and professionals to fill critical gaps in their economies. Yet in Australia, thousands have taken to the streets in anti-immigration protests, with Indians increasingly caught in the crossfire of political and cultural anxieties.

What is Happening

On 31 August 2025, large-scale rallies under the banner “March for Australia” swept through major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Canberra. Organisers framed the marches as a stand against “mass immigration,” while counter-protests in support of multiculturalism unfolded alongside them.

• Turnout: Police estimates put Sydney’s crowd at about 8,000, while Adelaide drew 15,000. Nationwide, tens of thousands participated.
• Incidents:
• In Melbourne, far-right activists linked to neo-Nazi networks stormed Camp Sovereignty, an Indigenous sacred protest site, injuring four people, two seriously.
• Multiple videos circulated showing Indian-origin participants being heckled, booed, and shoved when attempting to speak at rallies.
• Flyers distributed ahead of the events falsely claimed Indians had “arrived in greater numbers in five years than Greeks and Italians in 100.”

The visible presence of extremist groups and targeted rhetoric against Indian migrants, now numbering over 845,000 Indian-born residents, left many in the diaspora unsettled.

Why and What is the Real Issue

The stated grievances from protesters revolved around:

• Housing shortages and rising rents, with newcomers blamed for putting pressure on already stretched supply.
• Living costs and jobs, with claims of competition for employment and public services.

However, analysts point out that these issues stem largely from structural domestic policy failures rather than migration. Fact-checks highlight that Indian migrants, in particular, are among the most educated, economically active groups, contributing heavily to Australia’s IT, healthcare, and education sectors.

The underlying driver, experts argue, is the amplification of fears by far-right groups and political actors. Rhetoric around “cultural replacement” and “taking back the country” mirrors global far-right narratives, politicising migration in the run-up to elections.

Reactions

• Locals: Opinion remains divided. Some ordinary Australians voiced genuine concern about housing and infrastructure pressures, while others echoed extremist slogans. Liberal Senator Paul Scarr denounced anti-Indian rhetoric in protest pamphlets, while community leaders reaffirmed the positive role of migrants.
• Immigrants (Indians): Many reported fear and anxiety. “Is this the same Melbourne I migrated to?” asked one professional online. An Adelaide student admitted: “I feel anxious to walk alone.” At the same time, others stressed their contributions, with one nurse remarking: “Australia needs us, but sometimes it feels like we’re unwanted.”
• Officials:
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the rallies, stressing there was “no place for hate” in Australia.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned against extremist groups trying to divide the country.
• Opposition voices, however, used the debate to argue for stricter migration controls.
• From India, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the High Commission had raised diaspora concerns in advance, reiterating: “The welfare of Indians abroad remains a top priority.”

What the Government is Doing

• Australia:
• Deployed large police presence during and after rallies.
• Increased monitoring of extremist activity, both online and offline.
• Issued public reassurances about multiculturalism as a cornerstone of national identity.
• Simultaneously, the government is moving ahead with previously announced caps on international student enrolments as part of housing market reforms—highlighting the political balancing act.
• India:
• Engaged directly with Australian authorities.
• Kept consulates in touch with diaspora communities.
• Publicly reassured families in India that safety was being monitored, and consular assistance would be expedited if necessary.

Conclusion – The Comparative Lens

The protests in Australia underscore a moment of anxiety and division, where Indian migrants—despite their economic contributions—find themselves caught in political and cultural crossfire.

Yet, thousands of kilometres away, the picture is strikingly different. Germany is boosting its skilled visas for Indians to 90,000 annually, Italy is expanding both work quotas and student post-study stays, and Japan has signed agreements to bring in 5,00,000 Indian workers by 2030. For these economies, India’s youth is not a threat but a solution to ageing populations and critical labour shortages.

As a result, the choice for Indian students and professionals is increasingly shaped not only by opportunities but by acceptance.

While Australia struggles with fear-driven politics, countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan are widening opportunities. For some, India’s youth is framed as a burden; for others, it is a lifeline. The global divide is no longer about East and West, but about which nations choose to welcome—and which choose to push away.