Victorian Premier slams international student capping as 'hurtful,' promises to reward their 'sacrifices'

Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan, is scheduled to begin a four-day visit to India starting on 15 September. This will be her first official international trip since taking office. Before her departure, she met with a group of Indian community members at the Victorian Parliament to discuss the details of her upcoming visit.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan met with a group of Indian community members at the Victorian Parliament before departing for her first official overseas trip to India. She is scheduled to leave on 15 September for her four day visit. Credit: SBS Hindi

During the event held at the Parliament House on 11 September, the Premier said that her upcoming visit to India will include high-level meetings with Indian officials, business leaders and also a group of women.

Additionally, she will attend the Australia India Institute's Annual Oration, unveil a comprehensive India strategy report and also participate in a cricket event.

Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria, meets group of Indian community members.

"I have travelled to India before, and it's such a beautiful country with warm, welcoming people," said Allan as she addressed a large gathering of the Indian diaspora.

"There is a strong natural connection between us (India and Victoria). We are proud to be a key trade and investment partner with India, and this will be a major focus of my visit," she said.

"Our relationship is not only built on those trade relationships but its built on trust.. I also want to touch on our education because one of the biggest successes of our relationship is in education."

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"We are really proud that Victoria is a top destination for Indian students who choose to study in Australia. We are proud because we know we are supporting the next generation of the leaders of the Indian community," she added.

Criticising the federal government's recent decision to cap foreign students, Allan said that her government will continue to focus on strengthening educational ties with India.

International students make an enormous contribution to our state. And I do want to acknowledge one of the challenges. I don't understand why there would be moves to jeopardise that. I don't understand why there are measures to cap or block something that is working so well for us.

Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan

She stressed that her trip to India will carry the message that international students from India and across the globe are warmly welcomed in Victoria.

Jacinta Allan, Victorian Premier

I know international students and their families have to make enormous sacrifices to come here to learn. And in Victoria, we want to see this hard work rewarded. That's my commitment to international students.

Jacinta Allan

She further described the decision to cap international students as unhelpful and detrimental to the state's interests.

Apart from the community members, the event was also attended by several other politicians, including the state's Multicultural Minister Ingrid Stitt, MPs Steve McGhie, Mathew Hilakari, and Natalie Hutchins.

Stitt noted that the state has the largest Indian community in Australia and assured that the government will continue to support it.

"Today is the fantastic opportunity for us to hear from you about some of your priorities, some of your opportunities but also challenges and for you to hear directly how we want to continue to support our vibrant Indian community right across the state," she said.

The Indian community in Victoria is one of the largest in Australia. According to the 2021 Census, there are over 370,000 people in Victoria with Indian ancestry, of which over 250,000 were born in India.

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