As it happened: Narendra Modi lands in Australia to meet with PM; Qantas expects to post record profits

Thanks for joining us today.

Here are today’s top stories - just in case you missed something:

• India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Australia and was welcomed by 20,000 supporters at Qudos Bank Arena for a welcoming ceremony.
• Australia’s deputy prime minister said the treatment of Indigenous journalist and former Q+A host Stan Grant caused him “enormous heartache”.
• Australian Border Force commissioner Michael Outram revealed authorities are monitoring 100 “deeply concerning” companies that are suspected of facilitating the trafficking of illegal drugs into Australia.
• Qantas revealed it expects to record an estimated underlying profit before tax of up to $2.48 billion this financial year.
• The lead investigator in the abandoned Lehrmann case said in a statement that his officers believed the ACT’s Victims of Crime Commissioner was speaking for Brittany Higgins in the sexual assault investigation.
• A NSW police officer who Tasered a 95-year-old grandmother at a nursing home has been suspended with pay.
• Victorians are expected to face new tax measures and infrastructure delays as the state treasurer tries to stem skyrocketing debt in the state budget, which was handed down today.
• Overseas, Portuguese confirmed they will launch a new search for missing British girl Madeleine McCann.

That’s all, folks. Sarah Keoghan, signing off.

NSW Police have also been out at Qudos Bank Arena tonight after around 60 protesters with yellow “Khalistan” flags showed up outside the stadium.

The group supports a proposed independent Sikh state in India’s north - which has been dubbed “Khalistan” - and said they were protesting Indian government policies.

“The NSW Police Force has a highly visible presence at Sydney Olympic Park this evening,” a statement from NSW Police said.

“Officers are monitoring protest activity to ensure it remains lawful and does not interfere with the event nor those attending.”

Our reporter Matt Wade was down at the event tonight. Here’s what he wrote:

Sydney’s Indian diaspora were out in force at the Qudos Bank Arena, many in traditional dress.

Before the event the crowd was entertained by Bollywood-style dancing and drummers. There were frequent chants of: ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’.

You can read his full take on the event here. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has used the welcoming event of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to encourage Indian-Australians to vote yes to the Voice.

Speaking at Qudos Bank Arena on Tuesday evening, Albanese said he was “proud” to lead a government that would give those in the audience the opportunity to recognise first nations’ people later this year.

“And I am proud to lead a government that will give all of you, all Australians, the chance to vote in a referendum to recognise our First Peoples in our nation’s Constitution later this year,” he said.

“I urge my Indian-Australian friends; vote yes.”

The reception for Narendra Modi at Olympic Park highlights the growing size and influence of the India diaspora in Australia.

The 2021 census found more than 670,000 people in Australia are Indian-born and the diaspora is forecast to number well over 1 million by 2035. But the biggest audience for the rally will be in India.

The country’s major news organisations are covering Modi’s tour and that means millions of viewers in India will see images and reports of the Sydney event.

Modi’s appearance at Sydney Olympic park is a sequel to a similar event in the same stadium in 2014 when big crowd gathered to hear him speak. Modi has been the star attraction at rallies in other western countries.

In 2019, about 50,000 turned out to see Modi appear alongside Donald Trump at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The event was dubbed “Howdy Modi.”