But, Reiterates Its Support For India's Bid For UNSC Seat External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee is leaving for Australia on Saturday even as a battle rages within the government on the India-US deal. And the outcome of that battle will be as keenly watched in Canberra as in Washington, because that deal could be the making of the India-Australia relationship. As Mukherjee heads off on his maiden visit to Australia, he told TOI that he was pretty sure Australia's close relationship with China would not impact its growing relations with this country. Mukherjee said, "We believe Australia's good relations with China will not be at the expense of India.' That's at the heart of India's unspoken reservations with the Kevin Rudd government in Canberra. Sources said the fact that Mukherjee is going in the middle of immense domestic political action only emphasizes why Australia is becoming more important to India. But Mukherjee said, "Australia became a trading partner of India in the 19th century