Yes, you must. Your permanent residence in Australia has no relevance to the issuance of your Indian visa. Citizenship is of relevance for visa requirements, not residency. Citizens of Nepal, Bhutan, and India need not apply for Indian visa anymore. All others need an Indian visa to enter India. Citizens and residents of any country (other than Pakistan) who are born in India or are children or grandchildren or spouses of those born in India, are PIOs or NRIs holding OCI or PIO cards, do not require a visa. A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is a resident outside India who is either an Indian citizen or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder in accordance with the Citizenship Act of 1955. Holders of OCI or PIO cards have the freedom to visit India without a visa as these cards are lifelong visas allowing visits to India.

Australian passport holders may apply for the e-Visa, if they are not of Pakistani origin or holders of Pakistani passports, Diplomatic/Official passport holders, or individuals endorsed on spouse’s or parents’ passport without an individual personal passport. It is also not available to International Travel Document holders.