Former ministerial advisor Nitin Gupta has been observing Victorian politics from afar these days, from the quiet, tree-lined streets of Peachtree City near Atlanta, but his insights on the state’s Opposition Leader Brad Battin and the road ahead for the Liberals remain sharp. Speaking to The Indian Sun, Nitin, who served under the Baillieu government and travelled extensively with the former premier, says time is the key factor that could decide the next election.
“Mr Ted Baillieu had got nearly fifty two months plus time as an Opposition Leader, when he faced elections in November 2010,” Nitin recalls. “So he had lot of time to cover the Australian Indian community, and visit India as well extensively. (July 2009—I also joined on that trip, paid out of my own pocket). Brad does not have that luxury of time. Again Mr Baillieu had to win back thirteen seats. While Brad has to win a few more seats than that to win government.”
Nitin believes visibility and early engagement matter. “At this stage of election cycle—Yes Mr Baillieu used to be lot more visible in the Australian Indian community. Few of his detailed multicultural policies were already out, and budgeted for at this stage. So Brad needs a bit of catching up to do. But I am sure Brad would have plans and implementation strategies to possibly get similar levels of support of multicultural communities, like Mr Baillieu had managed leading up to November 2010 elections.”
He adds that the current environment offers both challenges and advantages. “Brad also has the advantage of social media now, which was very limited back in Nov 2010. So the election is still wide open I understand.”
Asked about social media strategy, Nitin points to how digital algorithms have changed political perceptions among global Indians since 2014. “I understand that the general meaning/perception of word ‘Liberal’ has slightly changed back in India/global Indians after 2014, specially in the social media scenario. And that may also impact the algorithm which decides what videos global Indian community ends up watching across the world, including Australia.”
He warns that this shift may be creating subtle disadvantages. “The social media loop algorithm feed may be putting the Liberals in a disadvantage in Australia with the Indian community. The videos that they watch on social media, have a direct and indirect impact on their voting patterns. So if Brad could find a way through those algorithms perhaps. When strategist Mr Kos Samaras says that 85% of Australian Indians in certain seats voted ALP, the above algorithm should also be one of the direct or indirect reasons for that.”
Nitin has long observed how politics and diaspora engagement connect, especially through his own experience accompanying Baillieu on early trade missions to India. “Zero. I did not go on even a single government funded trip to India with Mr Ted Baillieu,” he clarifies. “In July 2009, when Mr Baillieu was the Victorian Opposition leader, I had travelled to India with my own funds. On that trip the meetings that I had helped arrange included with prominent people like then central Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, Minister Rajeev Shukla (BCCI), then youth leaders like Mrs Rekha Gupta, Mr Revanth Reddy (Both are CMs now), and various others.”
He remembers those visits as a bridge-building exercise that helped shape understanding between Victoria and India. “Between July 2016—June 2017, I travelled to India few times with former Premier Mr Ted Baillieu, in private capacity. We had also travelled to places like Kannauj, Haridwar, Dehra Dun, Lucknow, etc., apart from major cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru as well. In Feb 2011, when Mr Ted Baillieu as a Victorian Premier led the Super Trade Delegation to India, I was not part of that trip. I was working in the government department that was not directly involved in organising that trade delegation, so I did not get to travel with Mr Baillieu back then in Feb 2011.”
When asked for one policy idea that could help both small businesses and the wider community, Nitin turns to tourism and common-sense diplomacy. “I would give one such policy suggestion, that would help the local tourism industry—specially the MICE related travel (Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events). Its more a federal issue, that would benefit states as well,” he says.
“Currently, Australian Permanent Residents can travel without Visa to New Zealand. But New Zealand Permanent Residents need to apply for Visa to travel to Australia. So while tourism businesses in NZ benefit from the Australian MICE/last minute travel, the Australian tourism business miss out on that. Similar reciprocal visa travel arrangement with NZ would improve the MICE/last minute tourism to Australia, including in things like Cricket matches, with NZ permanent residents travelling to Australia more often.”
He believes a small policy change could have a large impact. “Its just matter of 12-24 months before these NZ permanent residents become citizens, and avail the Visa free travel to Australia. So if a common sense approach is applied, and visa free travel extended to NZ permanent residents, the Australian tourism would benefit heaps with MICE/last minute travel.”
The conversation then turns to Daniel Andrews, and whether the former Victorian Premier deserves a bronze statue. Nitin answers without hesitation. “Yes, I think Daniel Andrews gracefully deserves the Bronze statue. He did serve more than 3,000 days as Premier of Victoria. The rule of 3,000 days was made by former Premier Jeff Kennett, and Mr Andrews did not amend this rule either to suit his case.”
He recalls being present when Baillieu’s portrait was unveiled in Parliament. “Around October 2016, I had personally attended the unveiling of Portrait of former premier Ted Baillieu in the Victorian parliament. I understand that every Victorian Premier is entitled to have his portrait done and displayed inside the Parliament. And accordingly Ted Baillieu was entitled to a portrait in the Parliament. And Daniel Andrews now deserves a bronze statue. I do support the Victorian government’s decision to honour him with the Bronze statue.”
Nitin, who has advised political leaders in both Australia and India, also has thoughts on Indian political strategist Prashant Kishor. “Around March 2017, I had met with Mr Prashant Kishor in Delhi along with former Premier Ted Baillieu. Having been a political advisor myself I do relate with Prashant a lot. The contributions of political advisors are rarely recognised or acknowledged after victory, while they are the first ones to be blamed when something, or anything does not go to the fancy of top bosses.”
He calls the work “a thankless job, with very little rewards and recognition,” adding, “Prashant has definitely changed that in India. He has surely brought more exposure, and recognition for the job of political advisors. It’s one of the rare instances in Indian politics, where a political advisor has floated a whole new party, and is taking on the traditional parties. It would not be an easy road, but it appears to me that Prashant is in for a long haul in Bihar, and Indian politics.”
From Melbourne to Mumbai, from Parliament House to Peachtree City, Nitin’s career has spanned the varied worlds of policy, political strategy and diaspora engagement. His reflections on Victoria’s political future come with both nostalgia and realism, and a belief that, with time and tact, Brad Battin can still “cover a few more yards, and get across the line.”
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