Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Dr Andrew Charlton has said the Australia-India relationship must be recalibrated to reflect a rapidly changing global economy, particularly in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and clean energy.
Speaking at the Australia-India Track 1.5 Strategic Dialogue in Sydney on 18 May 2026, Dr Charlton said the partnership between the two countries was entering a more strategic phase shaped by technology, trade and shared democratic values.
He pointed to India’s large-scale digital transformation as evidence of its growing global influence in technology governance, citing systems such as the Unified Payments Interface and Aadhaar as examples of innovation deployed at national scale.
“This credibility matters,” Dr Charlton said, adding that Australia and India shared an interest in ensuring emerging technologies are governed by democratic principles rather than closed systems.
He also highlighted the deep and often overlooked integration between the two economies through digital services, noting that hundreds of thousands of Indian workers support major Australian companies across banking, telecommunications, insurance and retail sectors.
According to Dr Charlton, this cross-border digital workforce represents one of the most significant but underappreciated dimensions of the modern Australia-India relationship.
He said future cooperation should move beyond traditional outsourcing models towards joint development of technology, shared research, and coordinated digital infrastructure.
Dr Charlton identified artificial intelligence governance, clean energy systems and supply chain resilience as key areas for deeper collaboration, arguing that these would define the next phase of bilateral engagement.
Indian MP and Chair of India’s Parliamentary Friends of Australia, Manish Tewari, also attended the dialogue, contributing to discussions on strengthening parliamentary and strategic links between the two countries and reinforcing the importance of sustained political engagement alongside economic cooperation.
The session featured high-level exchanges between policymakers, diplomats and industry representatives, focusing on practical pathways to implement Australia’s updated economic engagement roadmap with India.
Key themes included critical minerals cooperation, digital public infrastructure interoperability, clean energy transition partnerships and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green also welcomed the engagement, describing the Sydney forum as an opportunity to exchange views with India’s new High Commissioner to Australia, Nagesh Singh, on the future direction of the bilateral relationship.
The Track 1.5 Dialogue brought together senior policymakers, business leaders and academics to advance cooperation on trade, security and emerging technologies. It is supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
