Federal Member for Greenway and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has said that Australia stands with India after the horrific terror attacks in Pahalgam. Minister Rowland also reiterated that the Indian diaspora is an integral part of our shared ability to imagine a bigger future for Australia in an exclusive interview with our Editor Pallavi Jain.
The Commonwealth electoral division of Greenway has among the highest percentage of Indian Australians anywhere in the country (17.2 % Indian ancestry, 16% born in India) according to the ABS’s last census in 2021. Contesting against Minister Rowland is the Liberal party’s Indian-origin candidate Rattan Virk.
We asked Minister Rowland about various issues concerning voters in the upcoming elections. Here is the full interview:
1. Cost of living pressures are impacting all Australians. What specific actions will your government take to ease these pressures?
This election is a clear choice between Labor’s plan to keep building or Peter Dutton’s promise to cut.
And Labor’s plan will deliver lasting cost of living relief, stronger Medicare and a growing economy, including:
- Tax cuts for every taxpayer – over $2,500 in relief on average.
- Medicare / cheaper medicines: reducing PBS prescriptions from $42 to $25, and freezing concession rates at $7.70.
- Expanding Medicare bulk billing – so more Australians can see a GP for free
- Energy bill relief for every home and small business
- Reducing HECS debt by 20 per cent saving Western Sydney students around $5,700 on average
- Fee Free TAFE
- Have increased rent assistance by 45% for pensioners and income recipients
All of this is at risk with Peter Dutton and the Coalition’s cuts.
He wants to spend $600b on an expensive and risky nuclear power scheme. The money has to come from somewhere. Only one thing is certain with Peter Dutton: He Cuts, You Pay.
Peter Dutton has also committed to increasing taxes on every Australian taxpayer, to pay for his defence and nuclear spending.
2. The Indian diaspora is a critical part of Australia’s multicultural success. How does your government plan to further recognise and support this community?
The powerful friendship we are building with India is based in no small part on the dynamic and diverse Australian-Indian community – our fastest growing diaspora, one million strong. For generations, this community has added so much to what Australia has become that you are an integral part of our shared ability to imagine a bigger future. You are also a powerful strand in the bond between the land that is your home, and the land of your heritage. And the Albanese Labor Government values this community – we are proud to be the most multicultural parliament Australia has ever seen, including Zaneta Mascarenhas and Varun Ghosh, the first federal MP to be sworn in on a Bhagavad Gita.
We are working to deepen the links further between the Australian and Indian people.We launched the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR) in Parramatta to serve as a centre of gravity for efforts spanning the India-Australia relationship and to support Australian-Indian business and create opportunities in India. And we are expanding our flagship Maitri (‘friendship’) Grants program which is committed to enhancing our people-to-people, business-to-business and cultural links.
3. What steps will your government take in its support for India given the recent terrorist attack specifically targeting Hindus in Pahalgam, the masterminds of which are allegedly sitting in Pakistan.
As the Prime Minister said to Prime Minister Modi when they spoke following this horrific terror attack on innocent civilians, Australia stands with India at this difficult time. There is no justification for this senseless violence and we condemn it. Those responsible must be held to account. Our thoughts are with those injured, mourning loved ones and with the Indian people.
4. There have been complaints against the ABC and SBS over biased reporting. Will your government set up an independent body to ensure these publicly funded broadcasters are held accountable?
The ABC has operational and editorial independence. Australians expect high editorial standards of the public broadcaster as well as transparency and accountability; it is imperative that the ABC meet these expectations. Viewers can also complain to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the independent regulator, about the content of a TV or radio program, if they are dissatisfied with the response they received from the broadcaster to their complaint.
5. There’s speculation around a possible ABC–SBS merger. Well known academic and media expert Dr Amit Sarwal says it will save government money, help multicultural media and also expand Australian broadcasters into the Indo-Pacific. Is this on the table?
The ABC and SBS are separate, independent, public broadcasters and Labor will keep it this way.
The SBS is Australia’s multicultural, multilingual national broadcaster that provides much needed media diversity, alongside other ethnic and multicultural media providers. including community broadcasters and news publishers. The Albanese Government has delivered the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy which provides a framework to strengthen and expand Australian broadcasting and media sector engagement across the Indo-Pacific. As part of the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy, the Australia-Pacific Media and Broadcasting Partnership will boost industry connections, continue support for media capacity and expand access to high quality content. This reflects a growing demand for Australian and Pacific content in the region, and presents opportunities to share stories, perspectives and culture that resonate with, and connect, people and communities.
As part of the Partnership, the ABC is increasing its content for and about the Pacific, expanding its Radio Australia FM transmission footprint across the region, and enhancing media and training activities through additional funding ($40.5 million over five years). The Government is continuing to support the PacificAus TV program to provide commercial Australian content free of charge to broadcasters in the Pacific ($28.4 million over five years). The Partnership complements existing Australian Government funded media development programs.
6. Independent multicultural media outlets often miss out on major funding. Are there any plans to provide more structured support to ensure their voices are strengthened in Australia’s media landscape?
As Communications Minister, and a representative for a culturally diverse electorate, I recognise multicultural media as critical to the health of our democracy, social cohesion and informing communities, which is why I secured $11.3 million in the Budget to support this sector.
This new funding for multicultural media is in addition to the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to provide $153.5 million over four years to implement the News Media Assistance Program, as well as an additional $27 million to back Australia’s vital community broadcasting sector.
Labor is also providing direct support to multicultural news publishers (alongside regional, independent suburban and First Nations outlets) via our $15 million News Media Relief Program.
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