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Following protocol,Australia’s disposition was traditionally bipartisan. At Homebush,one row back from Albanese was Peter Dutton. Albanese’s discussions with Modi aimed at improving trade and migration agreements while steering clear of the faux pas of questioning the BJP party’s record on human rights or India’s implicit support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Australia’s eager-to-please behaviour highlighted the asymmetry of the relationship. Australia was not setting the terms. Modi,meanwhile,was unafraid to make suggestions on internal Australian affairs,gaining Albanese’s consent to take “strict actions” against anyone attacking Hindu temples in Australia. This referred to separatist and anti-Modi graffiti written on temples in Melbourne,Sydney and Brisbane this year.

There had been no question of Australia – or actually,state police not in Albanese’s jurisdiction – being anything other than strict in response. Several public figurescondemned the attacks.TheTimes of India reported Modi urging Albanese to make “the safety of the Indian community a special priority for him”. Modi’s message was for domestic Indian consumption,emphasising Modi’s ability to have Albanese – who does not run state police and had never shown any sign of tolerance of these acts – say what Modi wants him to say.

It was hard not to stand back and appreciate the contrast. On the one hand,Australia is silent on India’s persecution of ethnic minorities,its imprisonment of human rights activists,the prospective jailing of theleader of its largest opposition party,its global leadership in internetshutdowns and its targeted political censorship,amid a long list of anti-democraticactivities listed by Human Rights Watch and other organisations,not to mention itsneutrality on Putin’s war in Ukraine. On the other hand,The Boss can raise the graffiti-ing of temples and receive warm reassurances that we will do better.

We have all arrived at social functions and found ourselves caught by surprise,conscripted into the service of our host’s personal agenda. But for Wednesday’s rally,an Indian political event on Australian soil,Albanese would have tied his own tie. It was saffron,a colour with deep religious significance for Hindus that has been appropriated by The Boss’s Bharatiya Janata Party,a socially conservative,economically neoliberal,stridently nationalist political movement. No doubt Albanese saw the tie as symbolising friendship with India,when in much of India it is seen as symbolising friendship with the BJP.

Questioned the next morning about what had appeared to be his role as The Boss’s wingman,Albanese said there were “1.4 billion reasons” for Australia to strengthen ties with India. And he is right – except that,at a politicised event,his actions and his choice of tie were taking sides against the 63 per cent of Indian voters who did not support Modi in the 2019 elections. By being used,while trying so hard to be non-partisan,Albanese unwittingly puts hundreds of millions of anti-Modi Indians offside.

At least Albaneseanswered questions. At his joint “press conference” with Modi in Sydney,no questions were permitted.Modi has not taken questions at media conferences for the past nine years. He simply does not submit to free media questioning in India. And even in Australia,he sets the ground rules.

A power asymmetry has revealed itself. India is the world’s biggest country,and in a generation it will be an economic superpower eclipsing China. India is not merely Australia’s useful ally in an alliance to counterbalance China’s influence. India is fast becoming the main player in our region. It knows this,hence The Boss setting the rules and the convivial host giving him what he wants.

This is not a criticism,nor anything like an assessment of Modi’s rule which has also brought economic prosperity to many in his country;it is simply an observation of where we stand,an asymmetry brought home so volubly at Homebush.

Modi and Albanese in Sydney this week.Credit:Bloomberg

It’s not the first time the likeable Australian prime minister has had his office used in this way. A month ago,it was a rebarbativeSydney radio host’s turn to show off his pull with the PM in front of all his mates. Simply a power play – look who I can get to my wedding! And,of course,our friendly PM,ever loyal and eager to please,walked straight into it. What else could he have done? Perhaps made better judgements about the line between the prestige of the office and the accommodating instincts of the person.

One day,such appearances could possibly appear ill-judged. Top-rating radio hosts and political strongmen have longer tenures than mere Australian prime ministers. In some cases,they may eventually be tarnished – by scandal,by overreach – and there will be historic footage of our highest elected office-holder,the good friend with his arm around their shoulder,way back when.

Albanese,with all his eagerness to please,will be crossing his fingers that history does not come back to bite him. But history never goes away. “And you better reckon with it in your life and in your daily experience,or it will get you. It will get you really bad.” That’s from Bruce Springsteen,a line worth remembering.

Malcolm Knox is a regular columnist.

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