A protest against Australia’s growing relationship with India is set to take place in Melbourne during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, with organisers calling for a “peaceful but loud” demonstration outside the Melbourne Meets Modi event at Marvel Stadium.
The protest is scheduled for Thursday, 9 July, beginning outside the Department of Home Affairs in Docklands before moving towards Marvel Stadium, where PM Modi will address thousands of members of the Indian community alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
The event, expected to attract around 30,000 attendees, is part of PM Modi’s third visit to Australia for the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit and discussions on trade, education, investment and strategic cooperation.
The protest was announced by organiser Hugo Lennon, who uses the online name Auspill, and is focused on opposition to aspects of Australia’s India policy, including migration levels, housing pressures and closer bilateral ties.
In a statement published on the organisers’ website, protesters argued that Australia’s relationship with India has been heavily driven by “people-to-people links” and criticised the growth of the Indian diaspora, international student numbers and migration pathways.
The organisers claimed rapid population growth had contributed to pressures on housing, rents, congestion and infrastructure, while arguing that Australia’s foreign policy should prioritise domestic concerns.
“The issue is not individual people, it is Canberra’s policy choices,” the statement said, calling for a reassessment of migration and Australia’s engagement with India.
The demonstration comes as Australia and India continue to strengthen ties across trade, defence, education and strategic cooperation.
PM Modi’s visit includes the Melbourne Meets Modi community event, meetings with Australian leaders and discussions aimed at expanding economic and diplomatic links between the two countries.
The protest organisers have said the demonstration will be peaceful, with police expected to manage crowd movements and security arrangements around the high-profile visit.
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