Recent anti-immigration rallies in Australia that have targeted the Indian community do not represent the majority of Australians, Canberra’s Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Photo credit: Reuters
Recent anti-immigration rallies in Australia that have targeted the Indian community do not represent the majority of Australians, Canberra’s Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said here on Thursday (Oct 16, 2025). Speaking at an event hosted by the Australian High Commission, Ms Aly said the Indian government had raised the issue of anti-immigration rallies targeting the Indian community in Australia, saying anti-India sentiment was “minority extremist sentiment”.
“We value you. We thank you. We stand with you. You belong in Australia. So to people who would tell immigrants to ‘go home’ – I say ‘they are home!’ I want to reassure everyone that the divisive rhetoric expressed at anti-migration rallies is not shared by the vast majority of Australians,” said Ms Aly, who is of Egyptian descent and known for her inclusive politics.
Ms Aly’s visit to India came a month after anti-immigration rallies targeting the Indian community were held in several cities across Australia. Following the rallies, there have been increasing reports of the country’s Indian community being targeted through racist abuse and slurs. Ms Aly said authorities in India and Australia were in contact over the incidents, saying: “The Government of India has understandably expressed its concern to my Government about these recent anti-immigration protests. … I appreciate the Government of India’s recognition that the actions of this small group are not representative of the wider Australian community.”
“I don’t know Australia. These are minority extremist sentiments held by a vanishingly small group in our country,” Ms Aly said in a speech that drew on her personal experience growing up as an Australian of Egyptian descent in a multicultural part of Sydney. It announced that in July it opened Australia’s first federal office of multicultural affairs, which is implementing policies and programs to “protect and strengthen” Australia’s social cohesion.
We were honored to welcome Dr. Anne Aly, Australian Minister for Intl. Development & Multicultural Affairs in Cox’s Bazar this week!🤝
During her visit to the Rohingya camps, she learned more about the refugee registration process and heard the refugees’ stories firsthand. 💙 pic.twitter.com/RuQUzaCgzQ
— UNHCR Bangladesh (@UNHCR_BGD) October 16, 2025
In addition to Ms. Aly, India this week also hosted Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Before coming here, Ms. Aly was in Bangladesh where she visited Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh visited Australia last week and signed agreements to deepen defense cooperation. The visits are seen as part of intensifying bilateral contacts ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s expected visit to India. Mr Albanese expressed his birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17: “I look forward to meeting you soon.”
Published – 16 Oct 2025 22:38 IST
