India - Australia relations can be traced back to late 18th Century and early 19th Century with shipments of coal from Sydney to Calcutta. This was followed by export of horses from New South Wales. Later, more diversified trade ties developed between the two countries. Full diplomatic relations between our two countries are much more recent but still date back to more than 50 years. The pre-cursor of Consulate-General of India first opened in Sydney as the Trade Office in 1941. The first Indian High Commissioner reached Canberra in 1946

India and Australia share much in common. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth, have similar institutions of parliamentary democracy, legal, financial and government institutions, free and vibrant press, speak the same language and are Indian Ocean littoral States. We are active members of the Indian Ocean Rim - Association for Regional Cooperation, ASEAN Regional Forum and dialogue partners with ASEAN.

Indian Community in Australia

The Indian diaspora in Australia, a professional and respected group, with their commitment to Australia and cultural and family links with India, provides an important bridge between our two countries. Visits of Indian cultural troupes, singers, painters, as also of film crews for the shooting of song & dance sequences, television serials and special effects for Indian films have also increased (estimated number 275,000). Interaction at the people-to-people level is also increasing. The number of tourists visiting each others’ countries is increasing. Australia has also become one of the important destinations for Indian students seeking higher education. These students fit in well, by and large, in Australia and take back with them a rich experience.

NRI, PIO Associations in Australia

Mr. Shabbir Wahid, President, Federation of Indian Association of Victoria, 68 Victoria Road,Northcote, VIC – 3001, Phone: 03-9489 5505/0412 532 313, Fax: 03-9482 1941 Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Mallika Prasad-Chowta, President, Indian Australian Association,P.O. Box 82, North Adelaide, SA – 5006 Phone: 08-8379 8756(R) 08-8226 7048(W) Fax: 08-8362 1425 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Jay Jayaraman, President, Indian Cultural Soceity Northern Territory, (Inc), G P O Box 957, Darwin, NT – 0810 Phone: 08-8920 2299(O), 08-8945 1058(R), Fax: 08-8927 8898 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Deepak Raj Gupta, President, India-Australia Association of Canberra, P O Box 593, Civic Square, ACT – 2608 Phone: 02-6209 8351(W) 02-6258 0238(R) 0422 300 205 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Ulhas Lad, President, Indian Cultural Society of Tasmania, Bharat Bhavan, 7 Lodge Street, Glenorchy, TAS – 7052 Phone: 03-6229 4111(W) 0418 294 110 Fax: 03-6229 2241 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Sarat Maharaj, President, Federation of Indian Communities, Queensland, P O Box 393, Aspley, QLD – 4034 Phone: 07-3403 6540(O) 07-3263 2093(R) 0401 111 709 Fax: 07-3263 2093(R) 07-3430 6561(O) Email: [email protected]

Ms. Sushma Paul, Hony. Consul of India, Suite 21, 2nd Floor Lincoln Housel, 4 Ventnor Avenue, West Perth, Western Australia – 6005 Phone: 08-9249 1038(R) 08-9486 9011(W) 0412 709 729 Fax: 08-9486 9611, Email: [email protected]

Dr. Siddalingeswara Orekondy, President, United Indian Association Inc., P O Box 575, Strathfield, New South Wales – 2135, Phone: 02-9789 4000 (W), Fax: 02-9781 6280(W), Email: [email protected]

Ethnic Media

Mrs. Neena Badhwar, Editor – The Indian Down Under, P O Box 99, Thornleigh, NSW – 2120, Phone: 02-9875 2713 Fax : 02-9980 6349 Email: [email protected]

Ms. Rakha Bhattacharya, Editor – The Indian Post, 56 High Gate Street, Strathfield, NSW – 2135, Phone: 02-9742 6160/02-9798 4177 Fax: 02-9642 1117, Email: [email protected]

Mr. Raj.P. Dudeja, Editor – India Voice, 20 Bent Street, Bentleigh, VIC – 3204, Phone: 03-9576 5767/0414 499 442 Fax: 03-9557 7157 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Pawan Luthra, Editor – Indian Link, G P O Box 108, NSW – 2001 Phone: 02-9235 0900/0411 391 299 Fax: 02-9235 0911 Email: [email protected]

Pt. Paras Ram Maharaj, Chief Editor – Hindi Samachar Patrika, 66 Bringelly Road, Kingswood, NSW – 2747 Phone: 02-4736 1904/0419 693 419 Fax: 02-4736 8074 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Dinesh Malhotra, Editor-in-Chief , Bharat Times (The Indian Monthly), Level 1, 580 Barkly Street, West Foootscray, VIC – 3012, Phone: 03-9689 6406/9687 6071/0412 933 528 Fax: 03-9689 5697 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Ashok Kumar, Editor, The Indian Sub-Continent Times, 6/130-17 Hill Street, Wentworthville NSW 2145, Phone 02-9896 2993, Fax: 02-98962993, Email: [email protected]

Mr. Neeraj Nanda, Chief Executive & Editor, South Asia Times, PO Box 465, Brentford Square, VIC 3131, Phone: 03-9389 4947, Fax: 03-9893 4947, Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Katriona Schlussler, Manager – Brisbane Indian Times, 2128 Sandgate Road, Boondal QLD – 4034, Phone: 07-3865 2673 Fax: 07-3865 2516, Email: [email protected]

Mr. Jasbir Singh, Editor, Indian Times, PO Box No.2302, Melton South, VIC 3338, Phone: 03 9747 9440/9350 4700, Fax: 03 9747 9440 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Sashi Singh, Editor – The Indian Observer, P O Box 170, Rooty Hill NSW – 2766, Phone: 02-9625 2625 Fax: 02-9835 8282 Email: [email protected]

Mr. Suhinder Singh, Editor, ASA Today, PO Box 834, Blacktown NSW 2148, Phone: 0413 218 (M), Email: [email protected]

Mr. Taswinder Singh, Chief Editor, Indo-Times, PO Box 51, Thomas Town VIC 3074, Phone/Fax : 03 9466 4884 Email: [email protected]

Ethnic Radio/TV

Ms. Kumud Merani, Executive Producer, Hindi Radio Programme, SBS Radio, Locked Bag No.028, Crows Nest, NSW 2065, Phone: 02 9874 0553, Fax 02 9802 8580, Email: [email protected]

Mr. Hari Narayan, Producer, Lokvani Hindi Programme, 26 Percy Crecent, CHAPMAN, ACT – 2611, Phone: 02-6288 1174, Fax: 02-6287 1274, Email: [email protected]

Mrs. Manju Jehu, Convenor ,indian Programmeing Group, 45- Coverdale street, Indooroopilly, QLD-4068 Phone: 07-3879999528(R) 040353999150, Fax: 07-38799999528 Email: [email protected] , [email protected]

Mrs. Jaya Sharma , SBS Radio, 81 Nordic avenue, Taylors Lake VIC-3038, Phone: 03-994992121(W) 9993666376(H) Fax: 03-963990138(W) 996852519999 ® E-mail: [email protected]

Mr. Vikram Sharma, Producer, Voice of India, 478-480, Cleaveland St., Surrry Hill NSW 2010, 02-9698 2604, Fax: 9699 1478, Email: [email protected]

Ms. Sudha Saini, Producer, “Aaj Kal,Hindi Televisioon, Melbourne Phone: 03 9882 2587, Email: [email protected]

Source: - Foreign Relations- Ministry Of External Affairs, India