In the western Sydney suburb of Harris Park — also known as Little India — some locals told SBS News the remarks have left them feeling unfairly targeted, coming just days after anti-immigration rallies that took place across the country.

‘It’s not a thing’

“Indian people tend to vote by looking at their backyard. They’re looking at what’s most important for them … They don’t necessarily side each way, but both parties definitely try and get the vote because the size of the population is pretty meaningful.”

Harris Park resident Ritwik Singh said Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was “way off” with comments that claimed the government prioritises Indian migrants because many of them vote for Labor. Source: SBS News

‘National asset’

“We left our country because we wanted to make this country good and better. Every immigrant has the right to live and work and be happy here.”

Wadhwa pointed to a 2022 federal government report describing the Indian diaspora as a “national asset”, highlighting its youth, high levels of education, and above-average earnings. People born in India now make up the second-largest overseas-born population in Australia, behind those from England.

‘Should have been voting Coalition’

“On paper, they should be voting conservative … but when we ask them why they don’t, the answer is blunt: the Coalition does not like them,” Samaras said.

Damage to the ‘Liberal brand’

“All the indications are that it’s electoral poison,” he told the Australian Associated Press.

“It will become one of those reasons where people will stop wanting to send their kids [to Australia] for education, or you might have skilled migrants think that maybe Australia’s not the best choice anymore,” he said.

Liberal MP side-steps calls for apology

“The Indian community does so much and they’ve contributed so much to Australian society — I’m there with Jacinta in the party room, backing them every step of the way,” he said.