NSW Premier Chris Minns backs Indian community during inaugural India trade mission

During his inaugural trade mission to India, NSW Premier Chris Minns toured the Asha community centre in Delhi, where he spoke with young people such as Madhu, a slum-raised student heading to the University of Sydney for a master’s in public health. Describing the visit as unforgettable, Minns highlighted the resilience of the community and urged that immigration debates not undermine Australia’s appeal to overseas students.

He and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey also formally opened Western Sydney University’s upcoming India campus in Uttar Pradesh, which will focus on agri-technology, sustainability and business studies and begin enrolling students in February. Vice-Chancellor George Williams pledged open, merit-based admissions but warned that federal moves to reduce student visas could hurt the state’s economy and sectors reliant on international students. The premier reiterated that Indian Australians are vital to NSW’s future, countering recent One Nation calls for a “monoculture.”