Australia’s Indian Migration Surge: A One-Way Colonisation, By James Reed and Brian Simpson
The Albanese Labor government's immigration policies have sparked outrage among traditionalist Australians, with critics arguing that a flood of Indian migration is transforming the nation into what some call a "colony of India." Three migration pacts have opened the floodgates, while India offers no reciprocal access for Australians, raising questions of fairness and sovereignty. This blog piece opposes this migration surge, arguing that the lack of mutual benefit and the strain on Australia's resources justify the colonisation critique.
The following agreements have fuelled an unprecedented wave of Indian migration, with no equivalent opportunities for Australians in India:
1.Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA): Signed by the Morrison government, this deal prioritises Indian professionals and workers entering Australia, with visa pathways that critics say are far too generous. India, meanwhile, maintains strict barriers to Australian workers seeking opportunities there.
2.Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement: Enacted under Albanese, this pact further eases Indian access to temporary and permanent visas, including student and skilled worker streams. India offers no comparable program for Australians, leaving the agreement lopsided.
3.Mechanism for Mutual Recognition of Qualifications: This Albanese-era policy fast-tracks Indian graduates and professionals into Australia's job market by recognising their qualifications. Yet, Australian qualifications face bureaucratic hurdles in India, rendering the "mutual" recognition a sham.
These pacts have driven a record-breaking surge in Indian migration, with net overseas migration (NOM) hitting all-time highs under Albanese. Temporary visa numbers have ballooned by nearly 500,000 above pre-Covid peaks, and international student enrolments reached 1.1 million by late 2024, with Indian students a dominant force. This one-way migration flow fuels the argument that Australia is being colonised, as India reaps the benefits without reciprocating.
The term "colony of India" is not mere hyperbole, it reflects a growing imbalance. India's restrictive immigration and labour policies starkly contrast with Australia's open-door approach. Australians seeking to work or study in India face prohibitive visa restrictions, exorbitant fees, and a labyrinth of red tape. Indian citizens, however, enjoy streamlined access to Australia's education, job markets, and residency pathways. This asymmetry mirrors colonial dynamics, where one nation extracts resources, human capital, economic contributions, while offering little in return.
The Albanese government's policies exacerbate this perception. Labor MP Andrew Charlton's public embrace of Indian cultural events, like advocating for Diwali as a public holiday, is seen by critics as pandering to Indian voters at the expense of Australian identity. Viral videos on X show Indian migration agents and students celebrating Labor's 2025 election victory, boasting of lower visa fees and relaxed student visa rules. One agent declared, "No more $5000 international student visa fees, no more visa cuts, this is your moment!" Such rhetoric suggests that Labor is complicit in prioritising foreign interests over Australia's sovereignty.
The Indian migration surge is wreaking havoc on Australia's social and economic fabric:
Housing Crisis: The influx of 1.1 million international students, many from India, has obliterated rental markets. Rents have skyrocketed by 50% since the pandemic, with vacancy rates at historic lows. Working Australians are priced out of their own cities, while students and migrants compete for scarce housing.
Job Competition and Wage Suppression: Indian professionals and graduates, enabled by qualification recognition, flood industries like tech and healthcare. This oversupply depresses wages and sidelines local workers, particularly young Australians struggling to enter the job market.
Productivity Decline: The Reserve Bank of Australia warns that high migration causes "capital shallowing," where infrastructure and investment lag behind population growth. Australia's productivity is now among the lowest in the developed world, a direct consequence of unchecked migration.
Cultural Erosion: Traditionalists argue that the rapid demographic shift threatens Australia's Anglo-Celtic heritage. Indian cultural festivals and Labor's overt support for them are seen as steps toward diluting national identity. On X, users voice fears of "replacement," pointing to the sheer scale of Indian arrivals as evidence.
The government claims it will reduce migration to "sustainable" levels, but these promises ring hollow. Indian migration agents openly contradict Labor's rhetoric, celebrating the lack of visa restrictions and encouraging more students to flock to Australia. The Albanese administration's refusal to cap international student numbers or tighten visa pathways suggests a deliberate strategy to maintain high migration, regardless of the cost to Australians.
Labor's supposed reforms, like higher financial requirements for student visas, are cosmetic at best. The continued surge in NOM and student enrolments proves that the government is either unwilling or unable to stem the tide. This fuels the colonisation narrative: Australia is being reshaped to serve foreign interests, with no regard for reciprocity or national well-being.
The Albanese government's migration policies demand fierce resistance. Australia must prioritise its citizens and demand reciprocity from India. If India refuses to open its borders to Australian workers and students, Australia should halt the ECTA, Migration and Mobility Agreement, and qualification recognition deals. A moratorium on international student visas, particularly from non-reciprocal nations, is urgently needed to ease pressure on housing and jobs.
Traditionalist Australians argue for a return to controlled, selective migration that preserves national identity and economic stability. The current trajectory, where Indian migration agents dictate Australia's future while Australians are locked out of India, is unsustainable and unjust. The colonisation critique is a wake-up call: without immediate action, Australia risks losing control of its destiny.
The Albanese government's migration pacts have unleashed an Indian migration tsunami, with no reciprocal benefits for Australians. The resulting housing crisis, wage suppression, and cultural shifts validate the colonisation critique, as India gains disproportionate influence over Australia's economy and society. Strong opposition is essential—Australia must close its borders to one-sided migration, demand fairness from India, and reclaim its sovereignty before it's too late.
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2025/05/albo-prises-open-australias-border/r
"Recently, three migration pacts have been signed by Australia that facilitate Indian migration, namely:
The Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), signed by the former Morrison Coalition government.
Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, signed by the current Albanese Labor government.
The Mechanism for Mutual Recognition of Qualifications, signed by the current Albanese Labor government.
These pacts have seen Indian migration surge."
"The first term of the Albanese government saw net overseas migration to Australia surge to a record high.
It also saw temporary visa numbers balloon nearly 500,000 higher than the pre-pandemic peak:
Total international student enrolments also hit a record high of nearly 1.1 million at the end of 2024, nearly 250,000 higher than the pre-pandemic peak.
As a result, rents surged as vacancy rates fell to a historic low.
The Albanese government claims that it will bring migration back to "sustainable" levels, in part by stemming the flow of international students into Australia.
However, Indian students and migration agents contradict this view. The following video created by Frank Chung at News.com.au shows various students and migration agents celebrating Labor's election victory as a green light to immigration.
It also shows Labor MP Andrew Charlton dancing and celebrating with Indian Labor supporters. Last year, Charlton also endorsed the Hindu festival of Diwali being recognised as a public holiday in Australia.
"It's big, big news for all international students, which means more chances, more work rights, better support are on the way", one man said in a viral clip shared on Twitter (X).
"So if you are planning to stay or study in Australia, this is your moment, OK? Just tighten your seatbelts and consider Australia for your future. Congratulations".
"No more $5000 international student visa fees, no more international student visa cut each year, no more international student visa issues", another man said. "It's great news for everybody".
The Indian community and migration agents know that the Albanese Labor government is a soft touch on immigration."
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