Inside this Week
Tony Burke Interview | Indian visas | Usman Khawaja | Scanlon Report | Blacktown Diwali Lights | Celebrate India Diwali
Just Wanted to Say
Antepenultimate. Genealogy. Pernicious. Tourmaline. These were some of the words primary school kids wrestled with in the NSW Spelling Bee this week. (No surprise seeing South Asian-origin kids among the top contenders).
Does spelling matter today when AI can fix our mistakes? Absolutley. For kids, spelling builds vocabulary, and sharpens reading as well as writing. In adults, good spelling signals clear communication, attention to detail, credibility and trustworthiness. And knowing your words beats blindly trusting autocorrect.
Speaking of which, there’s one deliberately misspelt word in this note. Can you spot it?
Story of the Week
Immigration Minister Tony Burke talks student visas, long waits for parents and the backlash against migration.
In Other News
Applying for an Indian visa is about to get a lot easier. Categories are down from 13 to nine, forms are up to 70 per cent shorter, and the Tourist Visa has a new name. Here’s what’s changing.
Sandpapergate is back in the headlines thanks to Usman Khawaja’s new book, but the backlash seems less about what he revealed and more about breaking the dressing-room code of silence. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has barely faced a delivery.
Support for immigration is down, and negative attitudes towards Indian-Australians are up, according to this year's Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion Report.
We spoke to experts at the Australian Social Cohesion Conference in Melbourne last week about what's driving the shift.
From colourful performances to political appearances, the 21st Celebrate India Diwali in Melbourne's Fed Square showcased both culture and growing electoral interest ahead of Victoria's state election.
This year’s displays brought Ramayana scenes to front gardens and Mount Kailash to a Marsden Park driveway. See who took home the prizes, including the competition’s first-ever Champion of Champions.
Shoutouts
South Asian state winners at 2026 NSW Premier's Spelling Bee: Anika from North Sydney Public School, spelling armistice (Junior competition, Years 3 and 4) , and Afeef from Quakers Hill East Public School, spelling immemorial (Seniors competition (Years 5 and 6).
Samuel Doley of the Rohan Bopanna Tennis Academy in Bengaluru, who was selected to be a ball boy at the Australian Open in January 2027.
Indian-origin Abhishek Awasthi, who was appointed as Mayor of Greater Bendigo in Victoria.
Prem Kultonik, the 17-year-old student who was named 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year.
Chef Asma Khan who cooked her family recipes for the Community Thali Dinner event at Powerhouse Parramatta alongside chefs Gunjan Aylawadi, Kishwar Chowdhury, Bhavna Shivalkar, and Depinder Chhibber.
Poll
Does pineapple belong on pizza?
Last week, we asked if working overtime shows dedication or exploitation. Half of you said it's the results that count, 30% would stay late for the right pay, and 20% reckon long hours show commitment. Someone might want to forward these results to Piyush Goyal. During business hours, of course.
What’s On
An extraordinary voice in a new generation of global pop artists, Tamil-Swiss singer-songwriter Priya Ragu brings her much-anticipated live performance drawing on R&B, soul, hip hop and Tamil music traditions as part of Powerhouse Parramatta’s opening lineup.
For more, head to our What’s On page.
Say it Again
You can be exceptional in every way — master of music, scriptures, and knowledge — and still falter because of your judgment.
Until next week,
Indian Link
