Philip Green, High Commissioner of Australia to India, said the country takes Indian interests seriously and taken note of concerns regarding the Khalistani elements in Australia.
“We have certainly taken note of it. Our authorities… frequently engage on this matter. Australia fully respects India’s territorial integrity, and we have no association with irredentist elements. However, Australia is a democracy, and people have the right to peaceful protest… While people are entitled to express their views peacefully and within the law, criminal activity will not be tolerated,” Green told ANI.
In June 2023, Sikh and Hindu communities in Australia flared as a contentious vote was designed to gain political support for coming up with an independent Sikh state in India, according to ABC News.
#WATCH | On India’s concerns over Khalistani elements’ protests in Australia, High Commissioner of Australia to India Philip Green says in an interview with ANI, “We have certainly taken note of it. Our authorities… frequently engage on this matter. Australia fully respects… pic.twitter.com/x790oWoX7e
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2026
At that time, a few people gathered at a construction site in Minchinbury in Sydney’s western suburbs and held the latest “referendum” in favour of establishing a new state called Khalistan in India, the report highlights.
“These are isolated cases. There were 4,50,000 Indians who went to Australia for tourism last year and another 50,000 who went as students. What you are talking about is a handful of people. We have a visa system that requires people to depart Australia at the end of their visa, and we will always stick by that,” Green said.
India-Australia relationship ‘at its highest point’
While talking about the rapport between the leaders of India and Australia as well as the bilateral relationship, Green told ANI that “our relationship is at its highest point.”
“My mission here is to take it even higher. We have three long-term drivers: our growing strategic alignment… India’s rapid economic growth and Australia’s complementary exports… and the strong people-to-people ties… We are fortunate to have two leaders who respect and understand one another, and who actively work to improve the relationship,” he said.
#WATCH | On rapport between the leaders of India and Australia and the bilateral relationship, High Commissioner of Australia to India Philip Green says in an interview with ANI, “Our relationship is at its highest point. My mission here is to take it even higher. We have three… pic.twitter.com/icqg3W74zU
— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2026
Green said that the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) has remained in place for three years. “This is a major step forward after many years of bilateral relations that were subject to tariffs… India’s trade with Australia has expanded by 200 per cent… On the free trade agreement, negotiations are going on… We don’t want a quick deal, we want a good deal… It’s not easy, but we’re making great progress…”