India Australia |“We Stand Firm”: Tony Burke Vows Crackdown On Racism Against Indian Truckers

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has responded directly to mounting reports of racist abuse targeting Indian-origin truck drivers across the country, confirming new government-funded protections and issuing a pointed rebuke to politicians he accused of stoking division, in an exclusive interview with NDTV’s Senior Executive Editor Aditya Raj Kaul. Asked about an NDTV investigation documenting a rise in racial slurs, verbal harassment and even death threats delivered over CB radio to Indian-origin drivers, Burke acknowledged the trend as a “grim reality” and laid out a two-part response: what the government is doing, and what it is saying, insisting both matter equally. On action, Burke pointed to a network of dedicated centres now operating in every Australian capital city, set up specifically to protect migrant workers’ rights. “We have made a very significant investment in centres… dedicated to the rights of migrant workers,” he said, noting these are funded through trades and labour councils to reach visa holders who face “an extra layer of vulnerability” compared to citizens. He acknowledged many workers are reluctant to approach government authorities directly, preferring to “report in a quiet way initially”, a gap the centres are designed to close.