Australian High Commissioners reflect on 20 years of Australia-India relationship

Current and former Australian High Commissioners to India have shared rare insights into the achievements and challenges of their tenure, in a first-of-its-kind panel reflecting on a defining two decades of the Australia-India bilateral relationship.

The Australia India Institute’s ‘Two Decades of Australia-India Relations: Reflections from High Commissioner’s Past and Present’, featuring current Australian High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Philip Green OAM (2023 – present) and former Australian High Commissioner’s to India, Mr Patrick Suckling (2013-2016) and John McCarthy AO (2004 – 2009), took place on Thursday at the Melbourne Global Centre – Delhi.

In a panel discussion moderated by Australia India Institute CEO Lisa Singh, High Commissioner’s reflected on their tenure, exploring key areas including strengthened education ties, economic cooperation, cultural exchange, a bolstered defence relationship and other broader areas of bilateral interest.


The panel comes as the Australia India relationship continues to make steadfast progress in the face of geopolitical uncertainty - within the last 12 months new defence dialogues have promoted a safer Indo-Pacific, significant advancements have been made in collaborating on the technology needed for the clean energy transition, and our education and skills relationship continues to grow from strength to strength.

Singh said today’s panel event marked a period of significant growth in the Australia India relationship.

“The Australia India relationship has well and truly moved beyond the traditional ‘three C's’- Cricket, Commonwealth, and Curry, with this esteemed panel event reflecting on the evolution of our collaboration across two transformative decades.

“Since its inception in 2008, the Australia India Institute has been at the forefront of this growth as Australia's leading research and policy centre dedicated to promoting the Australia-India relationship and its cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Green said India and Australia have never been closer. “When I reflect on the trajectory of the Australia-India relationship, what strikes me most is the sheer pace of change. In Australia’s history, we have never seen such a rapid ramp up in a major power relationship.

“Our partnership will continue to broaden and deepen, so that we are fully integrated strategic, economic, and cultural partners, collaborating across all domains. I’m confident that at our next stocktake in five years, we will see a relationship that is delivering on its immense potential.”