MELBOURNE: The Indian community in Australiahas multiplied in the last six years, surpassing Italians and topping the chart of biggest migrant community on fourth rank. 

According to 'The Age' report, the country now had more Indians than Italians which had doubled in just six years. 

Quoting new data, the report said the immigration department estimated in 2007-08 the stock of migrants from Indiagrew more than any other country, even Britainor New Zealand. 

It estimated that Indian-born population rose from 110,563 in mid-2002 to 239,295 in mid-2008, overtaking Italians to become fourth-biggest migrant community. 

In 2007-08 alone, the number of Indian-born people living in Australiagrew by 39,529. 

Some were skilled migrants while overseas students who also contributed to the figures were hoping to stay on as workers. 

Meanwhile, Chinawas the second-biggest source, Chinese-born population growing by 32,563. 

New Zealand(31,248) dropped to third place, while Britain(17,397) was a distant fourth, as arrivals were offset by the deaths or return of settlers. 

Indian population would have risen faster still in 2008-09, when the number of Indians in temporary residence here grew by 40,000 or 40 per cent. 

But that would have been its peak, with the department estimating that total net migration in 2009-10 would be down by more than 50,000. 

In 2008-09, for the seventh year in a row, Indiawas the biggest source of permanent settlers in Victoria. 

Read more@toi