While these two nations sharing a colonial history, sadly there is reason for sadness in the last year.
I regularly ask the Indian people I meet if they have been affected by the recent violence. Many say they have been abused by people who think that Australian jobs are being taken away from them. Of course, oversees visitors creates employment and has been a boon to the economy and the cultural diversity of Australia.
There is little point going over the details that have been covered in the media.
Perhaps one of the best observation came from former defense force chief Peter Cosgrove.
Racial tensions over violence towards Indian students will only be resolved when their attackers are brought to justice, said Cosgrove at the 14th annual Australia Day address in Sydney.
He says Australia cannot afford to be complacent about racism.
Of course, every nation, including Australia, likes to point the finger at someone else. Its easier than doing the real self analysis that society requires.
The majority of Australians are appalled by what has happened. Of course there are the few who find it easier to do finger pointing.
After all, there are some who say, during festivals Muslims are attacked in festivals. Overall, India is a remarkably tolerant society, however, as regular reader of the Indian press I do read of the occasional attack during a festival.
This does not justify Australian complacency.
The series of attacks has generated public anger and widespread media coverage in India, where Australian officials have been accused of failing to deal with the problem.
Meanwhile, carefully worded releases by Victorian police designed to avoid stirring passions has been seen as inaction. Victorian Police Commissioner Overland stated Victoria's police "recognised this problem a long time before it hit the public."
"We've known for over two years that there's been this issue; we've been working away at it."
Working away at it.
Perhaps this mirrors the history of British law, that underpins the Australian system. African poets often bemoaned that their peers could be imprisoned for the minor offense of trying to survive while the land was raped and pillaged in the name of civilization.
Institutions have a tendency to be self preserving – and often it is easy to pick on the low lying fruit of a few minor offenders – it looks like you are doing something – while the complicated hard work goes on and appears to be ignored by the public.
As the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi said Australian police were quick to arrest students for visa violations, such as working more than the allowed 20 hours a week during term time, but did little to catch those exploiting them.
There has been a crack down on may operators and exploiters. Sadly, the Brisbane Indian Times research, suggested that some of the exploiters were Indian nationals.
It is understandable that a student, who is struggling to cover costs, who perhaps finds he is exploited will take on extra work and run the risk of a visa violation.
He has to eat.
The number of Indian 'offenders' for minor infringements is higher than average. However, Indians are underrepresented in any serious crime statistics.
This has also meant that some students have suddenly found the institution they paid for jas been blacklisted in Australia. So what do they do?
Even Ravi wants these fraudulent colleges closed down Yet, without a college, they cannot meet their VISA requirements and are in breach of law.
However, as much as we must act analytically, we must also respond to people's fears. People are not logical robots.
"People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies" wrote marketer Blair Warren.
Perhaps Australian leaders have forgotten what Rohit Revo reminds us in The Indian "Indian masses, glued to TV and print media, give a lot of importance to language spoken by leaders of other countries."
"Kevin Rudd also needs to reach out to Indian public. John Howard failed to create an image for himself and never appealed to Indian public. Statements by Obama on Mahatma Gandhi, his love for India , his Diwali message have all got headlines, thus creating goodwill and warmth for US in India ."
" Rather than focusing on platitudes, there is a need to make a bold statement praising India or softer aspects of Indian society so that the jinx can be broken" he said.
Actually, I believe we can - and must - go further. Australia must examine itself – its social psyche, it's institutions and it's past. The plan to send Shane Warne to India may help - seeing leaders reach ourt to India will do more.
While, the quiet achiever is lauded as a person who gets things done without hype, at times we must reach out beyond our traditional comfort zone and offer comfort to our International friends.
From that dialogue we can often find out much about ourselves.
