Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of nearly 30,000 members of the Indian diaspora in Melbourne on Thursday during his official visit to Australia, describing his third visit to the country in 12 years as a "hat-trick" while highlighting the growing strategic partnership between India and Australia.

The event, attended alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, celebrated the deepening people-to-people ties between the two nations. National anthems of both countries were played before the leaders addressed the gathering.

Speaking to the audience, Modi recalled his landmark 2014 visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Australia in 28 years. "When I visited Australia in 2014, I had said you would not have to wait another 28 years. This is my third visit in the last 12 years—a hat-trick of visits," he said, drawing applause from the crowd.

India, Australia Sign Key Agreements

The visit also marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations, with India and Australia announcing agreements across several strategic sectors, including defence, trade, energy, space, and critical minerals.

One of the major announcements was Australia's decision to begin supplying uranium to India, a move expected to support India's clean energy programme and long-term nuclear power expansion.

The two countries also agreed to jointly develop a Critical Minerals Corridor, aimed at strengthening supply chains for minerals essential to emerging technologies and clean energy.

In the space sector, both sides announced plans to establish a space tracking terminal on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which will support India's ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

Focus on Energy and Investment

Addressing business leaders and the Indian community, Modi said India and Australia are emerging as trusted partners amid global geopolitical and energy challenges.

He reiterated India's target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and 100 GW of nuclear power generation by 2047, noting that Australian uranium and advanced technologies would contribute significantly to these goals.

The Prime Minister also invited Australian businesses to invest in India's rapidly expanding infrastructure sector, including ports, airports, highways, railways, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres and digital technologies.

He said India's exports to Australia have doubled since the implementation of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) and expressed confidence that negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement would be concluded soon.

Cricket Analogy Draws Cheers

Using a cricket analogy familiar to audiences in both countries, Modi described India-Australia relations as a perfect blend of all formats of the game.

"Our meetings have the focus of a One-Day International, decisions are taken with the speed of a T20 match, and our partnership is as strong and enduring as a Test match," he said.

The remarks received enthusiastic applause from the diaspora gathering.

Education and Sports Collaboration

The Prime Minister also highlighted the growing educational partnership between the two nations.

He noted that thousands of Indian students are pursuing higher education in Australia and pointed out that Australian institutions, including Deakin University and the University of Wollongong, have already established campuses in India. He added that several other Australian universities are preparing to expand their presence in the country.

Modi also said sports continue to strengthen ties between India and Australia, while reaffirming India's ambition to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.

Warm Community Welcome

Earlier in the day, Modi met Victoria Governor Margaret Gardner at Government House, where he was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour. He also participated in the Australia-India CEO Forum before attending the community event.

Members of the Indian diaspora welcomed the Prime Minister with cultural performances, including Kathak dance and a fusion performance featuring renowned didgeridoo artist Ron Murray and tabla player Dr. Sam Evans.

Sharing photographs from the event on social media, Modi described the cultural welcome as a reflection of the vibrant bond between India and Australia.

The visit underscores the expanding strategic, economic and cultural partnership between the two Indo-Pacific democracies, with both governments signalling their commitment to strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors in the coming years.