An Indian business leader has issued a strong rebuke to Australian politician Pauline Hanson, urging her to "have some butter chicken and count the numbers again" amid renewed calls for a crackdown on international student numbers.
Jaswinder Mann, a Sydney-based migration agent, stated that Indian migrants and international students have become an "easy target" in discussions about Australia's population pressures. He argued that despite being a growing migrant group, they constitute a small percentage of the overall population.
"Every time Australia talks about migration cuts, somehow Indian migrants and international students become the easy target," Mann said. "But let's check the full picture."
According to Mann, Indian-born individuals comprise about 3.5 percent of Australia's population, while Indian temporary visa holders represent roughly 1 percent. Approximately 100,000 Indian students are currently in Australia on student visas. He further noted that hundreds of thousands more are Australian citizens and permanent residents who contribute to the economy.
Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, had recently reiterated her claims that some international students are using study visas as an indirect route to permanent residency, suggesting immigration should prioritize genuine skills shortages.
Mann presented data indicating that India has been Australia's fastest-growing major migrant population, with the India-born population more than doubling from around 449,000 in 2015 to 971,000 in 2025. This growth surpassed that of China and the Philippines during the same period.
He also pointed to New Zealand citizens as a significant cohort among temporary visa holders. Mann stated that around 730,000 of Australia's 2.97 million temporary visa holders are New Zealand citizens living and working in Australia under Special Category Visa arrangements. He questioned why India consistently becomes the focus if temporary migration is the issue.
Mann's comments coincide with the Australian government's ongoing finalization of a significant overhaul to the nation's migration system. The forthcoming package is anticipated to introduce stricter family visa rules, enhanced restrictions on asylum seekers' work and appeal rights, and modifications to working holiday visas as the government seeks to manage migration levels.