The 2016 Defence White Paper suggests that a realistic appraisal of India’s intentions, capabilities, and capacity for strategic partnership has emerged in Canberra. This article analyses this White Paper’s treatment of India in the light of those found in its predecessors. It argues that while Australia’s defence planners have in the past neglected India and then over-emphasised its potential, the 2016 White Paper presents a more sober view of a maturing partnership, albeit one that gives little away about how it might evolve in coming years.