Addressing a gathering at the Rotary Club in Lavelle Road he said: “There are as many as 52 Indian associations. There is a Malayalam Association, a Mangalorean Association…. You name them and they are there,” Wahid said.
He hailed the Chinese as an organised community, who chose a leader and supported him to get an important position. One of them is a mayor of Melbourne, he said.
Indians, who migrated largely as labourers and domestic helps in 19th century, made significant contributions to the growth of the country, he added. He said: “Indians are the highest tax-paying community.”
The biggest contribution of Indians in Australia was discovery of the largest coalfield, he said. Wahid said: Some of the Indian workers, who had returned after unloading a consignment saw the coalfield and informed the government. But, the credit for the discovery was never given to Indians.
On the recent racial attacks, he said there were some misguided youth in Australia.
“It takes skills and expertise to live in a foreign country,” he also said.
Wahid said some of the Indians exploited their own countrymen by promising them seats in educational institutions.
“Australia is confused about its identity. It is a mixture of many races. There are Italians, Greeks, Chinese and Indians. At least 25 per cent of the population in Australia are born overseas and 25 per cent may be born in a country where English is not a first language,” said Wahid.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels | Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks