EMPLOYMENT

weekend fundraisers for the LHbor Party within me Indian co mmunity and the constant parade of Labor's margina l sear politici ans at Indian functions. These ha,,e all shown the importance given to the lndian vote at the next elections. \X l hether the new (or old?) Prune Mini ster Rudd will embark on simihr gimmicks will be interesting to observe.

However, i f history is any indication, PM Rudd will prefer co practice his Mandarin at local Chinese functions, rather d1an covet di e lnclian vote Australian lndians will also remember p romises and grand iose sta tem ents such as the 20/20 fonm1s, grocery watch, fuel watch, the Jack of coherent policy on 'the g reatest moral challenge of our times' and carbon tax, the clismantling of the Pacific solution of the Howard government, the near breakdown in the working of me government after d isagreements in the kitchen cab inet etc. \XlhiJe all these can be forgiven, what the Australian Indian community will be watching, is how the relationship between India and Australia progresses under a reincarnated Kevin Rudd. Pawan Luthra is the current Parliament of NSW Multicul tural Journalist of the Year.