Inside this Week
Migration politics | Neha Madhok on Cutting Chai | Melbourne Cup | Biometric visa checks | Beetle wing dresses
Just Wanted to Say
Diwali is still ten whole days away, but you’ve already attended one celebration. Or three. The ‘ethnic’ wardrobe is getting a good airing, the mithai is piling up, and there’s social media evidence to produce (how many ways can you pose with a diya?).
Somewhere in this festive frenzy, the actual festival is still waiting to happen. (Diwali fatigue is a thing, yes).
Diwali is now a season, not a day. Once celebrated mainly in our homes, it now lights up Australia’s public spaces, workplaces and neighbourhoods. We’re not just sharing our festivities. We’ve become part of Australia’s festive calendar.
And that’s worth celebrating.
Story of the Week
One Nation has spent thirty years dividing Australians by race. Labor and the Liberals, meanwhile, are running an auction, each bidding to show it will cut migration harder than the other, as they try to out-Hanson Pauline.
Here’s what you - we - should be doing as voters.
In Other News
Neha Madhok, co-founder of Democracy in Colour, discusses political frustration, understanding One Nation voters and the conditions driving attacks on politicians.
Australia’s favourite Cup Day flutter started life in Kolkata. Here’s how a colonial sweepstake sailed across oceans to become a fixture of suburban bowling clubs and a part of Aussie English.
New biometric requirements are in effect for some Australian visa applicants in India. Here's who may be affected, what the process involves and what it could cost.
Long before glitter, India was sewing jewel-green beetle wings into saris and paintings. When Victorian England caught the bug, the shimmer ended up on Lady Macbeth, a Vicereine and, as recently as 2025, the runway.
Shoutouts
Helen Lamech and Manjula Datta O'Connor, who have been nominated for NT's Australian of the Year and VIC's Senior Australian of the Year respectively.
Urvi Majumdar, Sheila Jayadev, and Nicole Reddy, whose project Liars has been shortlisted for SBS's Digital Originals initiative.
Two awardees in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide: Ahana Dutt, who was awarded the Bill Granger Trailblazer Award and Abhi's Indian Restaurant in Strathfield, which was awarded One Hat.
The Indian women's rugby team, who took out a commanding 17-0 victory against New Zealand at the Women’s U20 Rugby Sevens.
Yastika Bhatia, who will be the sole Indian player in WBBL|12 after signing with Brisbane Heat.
Poll
Is working beyond office hours a sign of dedication or exploitation?
Last week, we asked whether you'd trust AI to help research your vote. Readers were evenly divided between trusting sourced answers and limiting AI to policy comparisons. Interestingly, not a single vote went to doing research without it.
What’s On
Watch cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes (Queensland Australian of the Year 2026) deliver the first Maitri Lecture on ABC Australia iview at 20:30 (AEDT) on Sunday, November 1.
Check your local guides for times.
For more, head to our What’s On page.
Say it Again
The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race.
Until next week,
Indian Link
