Australia’s ties with India have gained strength on paper, in diplomacy, and through growing economic connections. But public opinion has lagged behind the pace of this formal partnership. The new Australia–India Relations Sentiment Survey, launched in July by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, offers a timely snapshot of how Australians perceive India and the state of bilateral relations. It provides useful clarity, and in parts, quiet discomfort.
The research, commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and carried out by the Social Research Centre in partnership with ANU’s School of Politics and International Relations, surveyed more than 2,000 people from across Australia, including almost 300 of Indian heritage. While the results confirm a strong appetite for closer ties, they also lay bare how much of the relationship remains abstract to most Australians.
Tim Watts, the Federal Member for Gellibrand and Special Envoy for the Indian Ocean, launched the survey findings and called attention to a dual challenge of awareness and depth. “We need to boost Australia’s India literacy and our Asia capability more broadly,” he said. “Fifty-five per cent of Australians feel that news and events from India are underreported in the Australian media, and only 35 per cent report having a very good or good understanding of Indian culture.”
The numbers back him up. While 70 per cent of Australians rate India as economically important to the country, and nearly as many see it as strategically important, only 7 per cent name India as Australia’s most important economic partner in the region. China dominates this perception, followed by Japan. In effect, the gap between sentiment and ranking shows that while Australians acknowledge India’s value, they are not yet placing it front and centre in their thinking about Asia.
Watts noted this as a missed opportunity. “The report will provide data to inform future initiatives to build India literacy and it will help with continuing to foster strong people-to-people ties,” he said. “We can do better and I’m certain this level of understanding is on an upwards swing.”
When asked about where they engage with Indian culture, most Australians pointed to food, followed by music and film. However, less than four in ten said they had a good understanding of Indian culture. Just 12 per cent had been to India, although nearly half expressed interest in visiting in the future. Their main motivations were cultural experiences and food, but concerns around health and safety were also widely mentioned.
There is, according to the survey, a cautious optimism about India’s trajectory. A clear majority of respondents agree that the Indian government is focused on economic growth, and over 60 per cent believe India’s economy is open to international trade and investment. However, perceptions of India’s domestic social policies lag. Confidence in India’s progress on healthcare, education and welfare is lower, and only 16 per cent of respondents believe that Indian citizens enjoy the same personal freedoms as Australians. A large portion—over 40 per cent in some cases—said they did not know enough to say.
This recurring refrain of ‘not enough to say’ becomes its own data point. Whether the question is about India’s economy, civil liberties or diplomatic role, a substantial share of Australians hesitate. This isn’t hostility, but a kind of civic blank space.
Watts sees an opportunity here to build on goodwill. “We can draw on the insight in this survey to develop Australia-India relations using one of our strongest connections—the Indian-Australian diaspora community, which is now nearly a million (or ten lakh) strong.”
According to the survey, Australians largely agree with that sentiment. Seventy-two per cent of respondents say the Indian-Australian community has a positive impact on bilateral ties. Nearly three-quarters believe Indian skilled migrants play a crucial role in the economy, while more than 60 per cent say the same for international students and temporary workers.
This contribution is not just seen in employment and education. When asked what could help strengthen ties between the two countries, Australians pointed first to travel and tourism, then trade and investment, followed closely by education, science, technology and cultural exchange. Sports, while often cited as a cultural link, ranked lower than expected. One reason may be that engagement with Indian culture is still seen through a limited lens— there is interest, but it hasn’t yet been met with broader exposure.
Watts pointed to this as a policy opening, especially given the groundwork already being laid. “These people-to-people links continue to be foundational in the new Roadmap for Australia’s Economic Engagement with India, launched by the Prime Minister earlier this year,” he said. “It’s useful to have the data in this report to back up what we already know in this regard, so I thank CAIR for doing this research. It will ensure we continue to leverage the wealth of knowledge in Indian-Australian communities as we look at the next five years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
Even so, challenges remain. The survey found that one in four Australians recognise racism as a challenge for the Indian-Australian community. Nearly 40 per cent said they weren’t sure. The question of discrimination was one of the few areas where respondents hesitated more than they affirmed. It suggests that while Australians may not actively hold negative views, they may also not fully grasp the lived experience of Indian-Australians. For policymakers, that’s a soft spot that requires listening, not just reporting.
Media narratives, too, came under scrutiny. The report found that 55 per cent of Australians think India is underrepresented in domestic media, while nearly 30 per cent believe coverage of India tends to be negative. These perceptions feed into the broader theme of uneven awareness. When news coverage is sparse or framed narrowly, it limits the ability of Australians to engage with India as a modern, diverse and complex nation.
The survey authors have been careful to frame this data as a starting point, not an endpoint. There is a kind of quiet encouragement that runs through the results. Australians are curious, willing to learn, and in many cases, open to deeper links with India. What’s missing is structure—clearer pathways for education, more consistent reporting, and public conversations that reflect India’s growing role in global affairs.
Watts believes the work of translating goodwill into familiarity is well within reach. “This level of understanding is on an upwards swing,” he repeated. “And we’re seeing that reflected in classrooms, workplaces and communities across Australia.”
One of the more interesting insights in the report is generational. Younger Australians, especially those who are politically engaged or have travelled abroad, were more likely to express interest in India and to support closer ties. They were also more likely to say that they viewed the Indian government’s focus on economic growth positively. Whether this reflects globalised education or a different media diet isn’t clear, but it suggests future momentum is likely to come from younger voices.
Another area worth watching is business. While few respondents ranked India as Australia’s top economic partner, most placed it firmly in the top three. That perception is consistent with trade data and forecasts, especially since the rollout of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement. More Australians now see India as a place to do business with, rather than just buy from or sell to.
The sentiment survey doesn’t try to script the future of the relationship. Instead, it offers a picture of the present—curious, supportive, but still catching up. What happens next will depend on whether Australia treats knowledge as a foundation or an afterthought.
As Watts put it, “We’re standing on the shoulders of generations of people-to-people links. It’s now our task to turn that goodwill into practical cooperation, informed understanding and deeper trust.” The report makes it clear that the materials are in place. The challenge is to start building.
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