Boxing Day Gala Event

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung People, and I pay my respects to Elders past and present.

Australia and India have a long history together.

And you can't talk about this history…

…without also talking about cricket.

We are here for the Border-Gavaskar trophy - named after two of the greatest batsmen to ever play the game.

We remember when Sunil Gavaskar made his name here in Melbourne in 1977…

…scoring a match-winning century as India won its first test match on Australian soil.

That see-saw battle of the 1977-78 test series, where an Indian team packed with legends very nearly caused a home series defeat for Australia, is still talked about in awed tones by cricket tragics on both sides.

It was the beginning of many more unforgettable encounters between our countries.

And while our friendly rivalry has grown on the pitch…

… so has our partnership off the field.

Based on mutual understanding, friendship, and a shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

And of course, a love for sport.

And even as we wind down 2024, our tempo of engagement, in all fields, continues to beat like the drums of the Bharat Army.

In the past few months alone, we have hosted four Indian ministers in Australia, including Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar.

We welcomed Dr Shashi Tharoor last month.

I hosted film stars Rani Mukerji and Karan Johar at Parliament House when they visited to attend the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne – the largest Indian film festival outside of India.

We hosted the inaugural Australia-India Sports Innovation Summit, and Raisina Down Under – for the second time…

… and later this week, we will finally get to see the Pro Kabaddi League on Australian soil.

And just like Travis Head every time he plays India - we are determined to keep piling on the runs and the wins with you in 2025.

We will soon be publishing a new Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India.

This Roadmap will focus on sectors which show significant potential for the next phase of our economic partnership.

A major opportunity for us both is of course in STEM.

We have a strong base from which to begin.

This includes our Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, which deepens our research, business, and government linkages in cyber and technology policy.

The Australia India Innovation Network, which supports Australian technology companies to access the growing digital sector in India.

Our ongoing participation in the Bengaluru Tech Summit, including as official partner in 2024, and which I attended in 2022.

Our opening of a Consulate-General in Bengaluru last year – which will support Australian connections with this global centre of technology and innovation.

And the last thing I will mention – and I know this list is longer than Jasprit Bumrah's list of victims this series – the launch of our Strategic and Technology Policy Initiative grants program (SATPI), which will deepen our shared understanding of the strategic and technology policy issues facing our region.

We have recently announced the successful partner to deliver the SATPI flagship activity - an annual 1.5 track strategic dialogue between Australia and India.

As you can see, we had a busy year in 2024 and we already have a full year just ahead of us.

But we have to get through the summer of cricket first.

So thank you again to the Centre for Australia India Relations and the Victorian Government for bringing us together tonight.

And thank you to UST for sponsoring this fantastic event.

It is the people in this room who are on the ground and making this happen.

It is you who help drive the momentum of this relationship.

The Australian Government is deeply committed to the bilateral relationship – and with your help we will pursue new ways to work even more closely with India in the years ahead.

Thank you.