Australia-India relation is very very important for India and Australia. Australia is in between US and India, a strategic point connecting the two by waters. If India is under attack and US comes to help by any chance, Australia will be one of the bases to send military aides to India. For India, Australia is in the location between the America continent, critical for security of transportation of goods by ship, going down the route near Australia. I would strongly hope both Indians and Australians to consider both as important partners and warm friendship for that will benefit both. I am very glad PM Howard made a visit to India recently. This will strengthen US-India-Australia-Japan ties. We are all the protectors of democracy and civilization, and the relationship of four will guarantee a stable security of Pacific and Indian Ocean.
"Well said" bump....I hope trade relations also increase between both countries. Both Australia and India are surrounded by radical islamist regimes. The future alliance in Asia will probably consist of USA, India, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Phillipines, Thailand, and Taiwan.
I am not sure where the muslim "tiger economies" like Malaysia fit into this scheme though.