Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Monday night at a virtual summit where Russia's invasion of Ukraine was discussed.
India - which rounds off the Quad security partnership alongside Australia, the United States and Japan - is the only Quad nation not yet condemning President Putin's actions.
New Delhi is walking a fine line as Russia provides it with a large amount of arms but Western countries like the United States and United Kingdom want a more resolute stance.
There was no mention of Russia in a joint statement issued by Australia and India on Tuesday following the virtual summit as the two leaders "expressed their serious concern about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine".
"They reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities. They emphasised that the contemporary global order has been built on the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and the territorial integrity of states," the meeting's readout states.
Despite strong rhetoric condemning China for failing to act on Russia, Defence Minister Peter Dutton says the Indian and Chinese situations are not comparable, pointing to the conflict between troops along the Sino-Indian land border.
"Indian troops have lost their lives at the hands of Chinese troops in hand to hand conflict. They live large with the threat of China and that's been a reality for them," he said.
"There has been a relationship between India and Russia over a long period of time because they see it as a countermeasure to the influence of China and the threat of China to India."
Mr Dutton said India's relationship with Russia being viewed through a national interest lens was very different to "a superpower like China coupling up in an unbreakable friendship with Russia at a time when they're killing people in Ukraine".
Australia is instead focusing on its economic ties with India after committing to a landmark investment package with India worth $280 million following the virtual summit.
The package includes sharing of renewable energy technology, defence and space cooperation and a new Centre for Australia-India Relations.
Scholarships and partnerships will be offered and a task force will start work on a plan for joint recognition of educational, trade and professional qualifications.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan also launched an update to the Australia-India Economic Strategy to 2035 on Tuesday.
As part of the update, he announced $16.6 million to strengthen linkages with India's key policy and finance institutions and $8.9 million to support enhanced business engagement and an increased Austrade presence in India.
But a bilateral free trade agreement remains elusive despite discussions over several years.
Speaking at the Australia India Institute on Tuesday, Mr Tehan said trying to secure the interim deal was much like the sport of Quidditch from the Harry Potter franchise.
"The free trade agreement is like that elusive golden snitch we are trying to get hold of, and every time we think we are there, it just ducks away," he said.
The trade minister said he was confident such a deal on an interim agreement was very close, despite previously predicting it would be finalised early this week.
Labor has lambasted the government for further delays to a free trade deal, with opposition trade spokeswoman Madeleine King accusing the government of laziness.
"In September 2021, Trade Minister Dan Tehan gave himself a deadline of Christmas last year for an 'early harvest' interim trade deal, to lock in some benefits for both countries sooner rather than later," she said on Tuesday.
"(The) leaders' meeting was an opportunity to finally ink that deal before the election, albeit three months late. Yet the interim deal was not signed."
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