Experts say this is a sign of growing political engagement among Indian-Australians
As Australia heads to the polls on May 3 for its Federal Election, Indian-Australians—one of the fastest-growing diasporas—are voicing their concerns, with cost of living topping the list of issues, reported theaustraliatoday.com.
Dr Kunal Kalra, a young professional based in Sydney, says the soaring expenses and stagnant wages have made daily life increasingly difficult. “My mortgage payments have jumped by $2,500 to $3,000 more than expected. Grocery bills, dining out, insurance, fuel—everything has doubled. Meanwhile, election promises on financial relief remain unfulfilled,” he noted.
In Melbourne, Shruthi Mathur echoed similar sentiments, pointing out that electricity, food, and essential services have all become significantly more expensive in recent months.
Beyond household finances, voters like Himanshu Pota in Canberra are also calling for deeper social integration initiatives. “I want a party that promotes mutual understanding—educating Australians about multiculturalism while encouraging migrants to embrace Australian values,” he said.
According to the 2021 Census, Australians with Indian ancestry number around 784,000, or 3.1% of the population, with over 673,000 born in India. This demographic could influence key electorates such as Greenway, Parramatta, and Lalor—seats where the Indian-origin population is well above the national average.
Candidates are also contesting from smaller parties such as the Greens, One Nation, Animal Justice, Family First, and several independents
Around 45 candidates of Indian origin are contesting this election across the political spectrum. Labor’s prominent names include sitting MP Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan), newcomer Nildhara Gadani (Goldstein), and Senator Varun Ghosh (Western Australia). The Liberal Party has fielded Rattan Virk (Greenway), Vivek Singha (Fowler), Mira D’Silva (Lalor), and others, with Jacob Vadakkedathu leading the ACT Senate race.
Experts say this is a sign of growing political engagement among Indian-Australians. “The India-born population has nearly doubled in the last decade,” noted Prof. Purnendra Jain, Emeritus Professor at the University of Adelaide. “While it may take time for Indian-origin Australians to reach ministerial ranks federally, they are already gaining ground in state politics.”
Dr Amit Sarwal, an expert on diaspora studies, adds, “The rising civic participation and candidacy of Indian-Australians is a testament to their growing influence and enduring commitment to Australian democracy.”
