A $1.2 million proposal to create a permanent Little India precinct in Melbourne has divided the community, with critics warning Docklands could become a tourist-oriented “themed precinct” while supporters say the project should receive at least 10 times more funding.

The City of Melbourne has advanced plans for the precinct, allocating $1.2 million in its 2026-27 budget for consultation and trial activations.

Docklands was identified as the preferred location because of its public transport connections, community infrastructure, open spaces and potential opportunities for local businesses.

Following discussions with key stakeholders, the council opened the proposal to wider public feedback ahead of a planned trial launch in early 2027.

“Now, it’s time to listen, test ideas and build the vision for a future Little India precinct in partnership with Indian Australians across greater Melbourne and the Docklands community,” a recent council letter to residents said.

“Your feedback will help inform the precinct’s vision, trial activations and long-term direction.”

The announcement prompted concerns that the outcome had effectively been decided before residents were given an opportunity to comment.

“Let’s be honest here, the decision has well and truly been made. The contracts have been signed, the money put aside and the planning approvals completed. This is just theatre,” one X user wrote.

Thousands gathered at Marvel Stadium in July to see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is pictured at the event with Anthony Albanese

The City of Melbourne hopes to trial the proposed Little India precinct in Docklands in early 2027. The waterfront district hosts the annual Holi festival

Another user said the consultation was “the formal process before they ignore the feedback and go ahead with their plans anyway.”

Ralph Babet, the United Australia Party’s sole senator, who describes himself as a “Christian nationalist”, also criticised the proposal, calling it “cooked”.

“There shouldn’t be little anything in Australia. If you want to maintain the culture of the nation you left then, just stay there,” he said.

“No Little India, no Little Italy, no Little Greece, no Little Mozambique, no Little Sweden, nothing. Australia first.”

The council received 129 submissions about the proposal during community consultation on its 2026-27 budget earlier this year.

Many objections came from Docklands residents who feared their suburb would be transformed into a “themed precinct”.

“[It] risks turning Docklands into somewhere people visit occasionally, rather than a place people belong,” one resident said.

Vasan Srinivasan, president of the Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria, has spent almost two decades campaigning for a permanent cultural space similar to Melbourne’s Chinatown and the Italian cultural hub around Lygon Street.

Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria president Vasan Srinivasan said a Little India precinct would benefit Melbourne and that funding should rise “at least tenfold”

He told the Daily Mail that a Little India precinct would benefit the city, arguing its funding should increase “at least tenfold” to give the project the best chance of succeeding over the long term.

“It’s not going to harm anyone and it will bring more people to the city,” he said.

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About 450,000 Indian visitors travel to Australia each year, and roughly half of them visit Melbourne, which Mr Srinivasan considers the multicultural capital of the world.

He said the precinct should be located in the CBD, pointing to the success of Indian cultural and commercial hubs in Southall in London, Little India in Singapore and Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur.

A council spokesman told the Daily Mail that the proposal would not progress until a report on feedback from the current consultation period is presented to the council in February.

“Melbourne is one of the most successful multicultural cities in the world and we’re proud to be home to Australia’s largest Indian community,” he said.

“We’ve already heard from more than 1,000 people about the proposed Little India precinct, and their feedback will help shape what comes next.”

Several submissions supported the proposal, saying it could “showcase the Indian community in all its vibrancy”.

The “Melbourne Meets Modi” rally, featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drew a sell-out crowd in July this year

“It will strengthen the Indian community and enable better integration into Australian society,” one submission said.

The council report acknowledged that support for the proposed precinct was not unanimous, with some residents calling for investment in other priorities.

“The feedback raises a desire for Docklands to be a residential neighbourhood with family and community amenity, not an events precinct, and improved investment in green spaces, cleanliness, harbour maintenance, schools, childcare and activities for young people,” the report said.

Melbourne is home to Australia’s largest Indian population, with about 258,000 residents identifying as Indian.

More than 30,000 people attended the “Melbourne Meets Modi” rally at Marvel Stadium in Docklands in July, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Organisers said tickets sold out “faster than Taylor Swift”.

“Melbourne has both the community capacity and international reputation to establish an equally successful, if not superior, precinct.”

Docklands already hosts Melbourne’s annual Holi Festival, which draws tens of thousands of attendees.

“Docklands feels like the natural home for something like Little India,” festival director Sunny Pathak said.

“It already has a strong Indian community, Indian businesses and major cultural events like Holi, so the foundations are already there.”

Australia’s first Little India precinct opened in Harris Park in western Sydney in 2023.

Melbourne is also home to Australia’s oldest Chinatown, which was established in 1851 during the Victorian gold rush.

The Albanese Government has quietly revised a taxpayer-funded website that advised people with sexual thoughts about children not to “beat yourself up” over fantasies, following criticism that the language could minimise the seriousness of child sexual abuse.

Several weeks after the Stop It Now! Australia website’s guidance attracted widespread scrutiny, a number of its modules appear to have been removed.

One deleted section advised users to avoid sexual fantasies about children while masturbating.

“To help, try focusing your attention exclusively on the physical sensations you experience while masturbating,” the module stated.

“Don’t beat yourself up. For many people, it simply does not feel realistic to never have sexual fantasies about children. Compassion and self-acceptance can also be very helpful.

“Having a sexual interest in children can feel lonely and you may feel society doesn’t understand your situation.”

Another section, which linked to the organisation’s British sister website, questioned whether people could stop being attracted to children and suggested the issue might be comparable to gay conversion therapy.

“Some people who have a sexual attraction to children want to change this attraction,” the former module said.

Parts of a taxpayer-funded website that told people with sexual fantasies about children not to “beat yourself up” have been quietly removed by the Albanese Government

The website offers support to people concerned about sexual thoughts involving children, including those previously convicted of child sex offences

“There is some debate about how effective this change can be, and some might suggest it is akin to the historical use of such practices for altering homosexual interests.”

The website, launched in April as part of a $9.6 million government program, also revised its advice on what people should do when experiencing sexual fantasies about children. Earlier guidance encouraged them to call someone, leave the room and write down their thoughts in a journal.

The changes followed comments from a spokesman for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, who told the Daily Mail that the department was working with the service provider to review the website in light of evidence and expert advice.

On Monday, Professor Daryl Higgins, director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University, told the Daily Mail that the website was intended to provide a “humanised response” to people who recognised they needed help.

“For those who recognise that they don’t want to go down this path, we have to, as a society, provide a pathway out of that,” he said.

However, Professor Higgins said the support service could not begin and end with a single phone call.

“It has to be an integrated set of supports so that anybody who has concerning thoughts about children can get the help that they need,” he said.

“It shouldn’t start and end with a phone call. That phone call should be the linkage point to specialist services.”

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A spokesman for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended the website, saying it followed a recommendation from the child sex abuse royal commission

Professor Higgins acknowledged the risks involved in operating a service such as Stop It Now! but said inaction posed a greater danger.

“I think the short answer is, yes, it does come with risks, but it’s a bigger risk not to do anything,” he said.

Opposition child protection spokesman Matt O’Sullivan accused the government of “covering their tracks” as questions mounted over who approved the material.

“Who approved this material? Who ordered its removal? And why did it take public exposure before action was taken?” Senator O’Sullivan said.

“This is just another example of the Albanese Government outsourcing responsibility to bureaucrats and external agencies, who they can shift blame to when things go wrong.

“The government cannot simply scrub material from a website and expect the controversy to disappear. When it comes to protecting children, ministers must take responsibility, not cover their tracks.”

Stop It Now! Australia began as a pilot program run by social change organisation Jesuit Social Services in September 2022 before expanding into a federally funded national scheme in April 2026.

The former Morrison Government developed and funded the First Action Plan under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse in 2021.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended the service, saying it had been established in response to recommendations from the 2017 Royal Commission.

Senator O’Sullivan questioned advice in the modules, including a suggestion to “try to avoid sexual fantasies about children when masturbating”

“Child sexual abuse in any form is an abhorrent crime, and perpetrators must face the full force of the law,” the spokesman said.

“This government is simultaneously focused on preventative measures and organisations that help stop child sexual abuse before it occurs, while also cracking down on offenders and supporting victims.”

The website has recorded more than 28,000 visits from almost 24,000 unique users.

The Daily Mail has contacted the Attorney-General for further comment.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service (1800 211 028)

Housing protests descended into violence in Spain as demonstrators smashed shopfronts, set rubbish bins alight and fired fireworks at police in riot gear and armoured vans.

Tens of thousands took to the streets earlier today in the country’s first general strike in 14 years, protesting soaring rents and property prices nationwide.

Millions of Spanish workers brought businesses and public transport to a standstill under the slogan: ‘Salaries. Housing. Prices.’

The marches were largely peaceful at first, but clashes later erupted in Barcelona and Madrid. Protesters were seen breaking shop windows, while others launched fireworks towards police officers.

Small fires were lit outside shops and rubbish bins were set ablaze as demonstrators confronted riot police. Officers were forced to use pepper spray in some areas.

Police had already made 39 arrests across Spain in connection with strike-related incidents before the late-day clashes began.

Public anger intensified after the eviction of 87-year-old pensioner Maricarmen Abascal on September 23.

Ms Abascal was removed from the Madrid flat she had lived in for more than 70 years after reportedly being unable to pay a sharp rent increase.

Demonstrators burn containers during a protest march held as part of a nationwide general strike in Barcelona on November 11

Police charge outside an Apple Store as unrest breaks out during a nationwide general strike in Barcelona

A protester kicks the door of a shop covered in stickers reading ‘closed due to general strike’

Rioting breaks out across Barcelona after a march that had been largely peaceful

People launch fireworks as protesters clash with riot police during the demonstrations

Riot police confront protesters in Barcelona

Protesters strike a police car with a fence in Barcelona during a 24-hour national general strike

Millions of Spanish workers shut businesses and public transport for the walkout under the slogan ‘Salaries. Housing. Prices.’

Police had made 39 arrests across Spain in strike-related incidents before the late-day clashes in Barcelona

Police also clashed with protesters in Madrid, using pepper spray against crowds in some areas

A protester holds a rubbish bin during clashes with police in Madrid

Police clash with protesters during the country’s first general strike in 14 years

People watch from a shopping centre as police use pepper spray during unrest in Madrid

Police arrest a man on Madrid’s Gran Via during the national strike

Dramatic footage showed the frail grandmother being carried from the property on a stretcher in September, an incident that triggered nationwide protests and a political dispute.

Ms Abascal was taken to hospital after the court-ordered eviction, and her death was announced on Saturday.

‘We regret to announce that Maricarmen passed away today,’ the Madrid Tenants’ Union said, describing her case as ‘a turning point in the history of this country’.

Abascal was carried from the property on September 23 amid a dispute over a proposed 275 per cent rent increase.

Video showed riot police breaking through a barricade made from chairs, shelves and a lamp as supporters tried to stop the court-ordered eviction.

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The protests came after Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called a snap election following his government’s major legislative defeat over emergency housing measures.

Average rents in Spain have nearly doubled over the past decade, placing increasing pressure on household finances and angering voters.

Thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets in recent weeks to demand action on housing affordability, with public frustration sharpened by the widely reported eviction of Ms Abascal.

Parliament later rejected proposed housing reforms, prompting further demonstrations across the country.

Speaking about the failed measures, the Madrid Tenants’ Union said: ‘While a historic agreement was reached that would have allowed her to return to her home, this solution has come too late.

‘An entirely avoidable situation after such a torturous process.’

Government officials estimated that 120,000 people gathered in Madrid despite heavy rain. The strike drew workers and other residents into central Barcelona and Madrid, as well as onto the streets of cities across Spain.

Housing activists said 400,000 people marched through Barcelona, while the city government put the turnout at 55,000. Demonstrators walked behind a huge banner reading: ‘Live. Not Just Survive.’

Protesters are calling for automatic lease renewals to protect renters, among other measures. Trade unions are also demanding more public housing and a new agreement on the minimum wage.

Carlos Ferrer, a 45-year-old customer service worker trying to return to Alicante by train from Barcelona, said that sometimes only ‘radical measures, such as a general strike’ could force change.

‘Authorities need to feel pressure from citizens so they can do something,’ he said.

As evening fell in Madrid, the broad Paseo del Prado became a sea of umbrellas as a large crowd gathered in persistent rain.

Almudena López, 74, said: ‘My son is 43 years old and still does not own a home because he cannot afford one.’

She said her son, who works in IT, was forced to rent a small room in a shared flat.

‘When I was young, having a university degree meant you could find a job and, by saving a little, manage to buy a home. It always involved some sacrifice, but it was possible.

‘It is nothing like that today.’

Anger intensified after the eviction of 87-year-old pensioner Maricarmen Abascal, who was removed from the Madrid flat she had called home for more than 70 years after reportedly being unable to afford a steep rent increase

The strike was organised by Spain’s two traditional major unions, but grassroots housing activists—many of them younger people who have experienced the housing crisis themselves—also played a leading role.

‘This strike is against rent seekers, property speculators, large companies that get rich by selling homes and, of course, every level of government,’ housing activist Valeria Racu told reporters in Madrid.

‘We are here to show that we can set our own agenda, and we will continue doing so regardless of who is in government.’

The unions described the strike as a success, while business organisations said it had made little impact.

‘The strike has exceeded the labour unions’ expectations,’ said Unai Sordo, secretary-general of CCOO, one of the two unions that called the action in a country with 22 million registered workers.

CCOO and UGT, the other major union organising the strike, reported substantial stoppages in key sectors.

They said stoppages reached 90 per cent in the automotive and port sectors, 85 per cent in the meat industry, 82 per cent in waste collection and 75 per cent in the energy sector.

The leading business organisation, CEOE, branded the strike a ‘failure’, saying overall participation was just 5 per cent.

Both sides agreed that participation was stronger in heavy industry and transport, while retail and restaurants saw lower levels of disruption.

Around 5 per cent of flights scheduled for Wednesday were cancelled at airports across Spain, according to the country’s airport operator, AENA.

Prince William was joined by several members of his family at the Tusk Conservation Awards, where Zara Tindall and Diana’s nieces, Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza Spencer, came out to show their support.

The 44-year-old Prince of Wales arrived at The Raffles Hotel in central London on Wednesday evening wearing a smart black tuxedo. The glittering ceremony honoured some of Africa’s leading conservationists for their work protecting endangered wildlife and threatened habitats.

Although the Princess of Wales was not pictured at the event, William had no shortage of royal backing. Zara, 45, joined Lady Amelia and Lady Eliza, also 34, at the star-studded gathering.

The glamorous Spencer twins, daughters of Diana’s younger brother Earl Spencer, made a striking entrance in contrasting metallic gowns. One chose a shimmering gold design, while the other opted for a dazzling silver look.

The sisters, who have become familiar faces on London’s social circuit, posed for photographs alongside guests celebrating the conservationists working to protect Africa’s wildlife and natural landscapes.

Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne and one of William’s cousins, also attended the prestigious ceremony, contributing to the strong family presence on the night.

Among the other notable guests were the Marchioness of Bath, comedian John Bishop and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden. Television presenter and wildlife expert Liz Bonnin hosted the awards.

The Prince of Wales, 44, arrived at The Raffles Hotel in central London on Wednesday evening in a smart black tuxedo for the glittering ceremony

The glamorous Spencer twins, daughters of Diana’s younger brother Earl Spencer, turned heads in contrasting metallic gowns, with one wearing shimmering gold and the other dazzling silver

Zara Tindall attended the annual event to support her cousin, Prince William

William, who has spent years championing environmental protection, appeared relaxed as he spoke with guests and conservationists at the 14th annual awards.

Among those he met was John Kamanga, executive director of Kenya’s South Rift Association of Landowners. The organisation works with local communities to protect wildlife and the landscapes that sustain them.

The Prince has served as Tusk’s Royal Patron since 2005, making the charity’s mission to protect Africa’s wildlife and support conservation communities a defining part of his public work.

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William helped establish the awards in 2013. They honour people who have devoted their lives to preserving Africa’s natural heritage, often in dangerous and exceptionally difficult conditions.

Since the awards began, 61 winners have received more than £2 million in grants for their conservation projects. Those initiatives have helped protect more than 60 species across 23 African countries.

At this year’s ceremony, £225,000 in grants will be distributed across three categories. They include the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa, which recognises an individual who has made an outstanding long-term contribution to wildlife protection.

The other honours are the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, celebrating an emerging conservation leader, and the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award, which recognises the bravery and dedication of those protecting endangered animals on the front line.

The event was especially meaningful for two previous winners, John Kamanga of Kenya and Amos Gwema of Zimbabwe. Both were able to attend the celebrations in person after receiving their awards virtually during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

The Prince of Wales, Royal Patron of Tusk, delivers a speech at the 14th annual Tusk Conservation Awards

Previous winner John Kamanga of Kenya, executive director of the South Rift Association of Landowners, with his award

Prince William speaks with Amos Gwema, principal intelligence officer of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority

Tusk founder Charlie Mayhew OBE and Prince William attend the 2026 Tusk Conservation Awards at Raffles

The pair were invited to London for this year’s ceremony, six years after their original victories. William was photographed speaking with Mr Kamanga during the evening.

The Prince’s commitment to conservation spans more than two decades. During that time, he has supported efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade and protect endangered species.

In addition to his work with Tusk, William founded United for Wildlife in 2013 to help tackle wildlife trafficking. He later launched the Earthshot Prize, an ambitious initiative that rewards innovative solutions to some of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges.