Aussie delegation assures strict action against racists
A high-profile Australian delegation recently met their Indian counter-parts to discuss the racial attacks on Indian students in Australia. The delegation assured that their nation working to make Australia's anti-racism laws more stringent
MORE THAN two months after the attacks on Indian students in Australia triggered an outcry, a high-level Aussie delegation arrived here on a damage-control mission on Monday (June 6). Apart from the delegation promising to make Australia’s anti-racism laws more stringent, the two countries also decided to form a joint working group (JWG).
“We have zero tolerance towards racism. The Education Services for Overseas Act, which is a national Act, would be reviewed while the Sentencing Act, a legislation of Victoria State where most of the attacks on Indian students have taken place, would be amended to have longer sentences for the offenders of hate crime,” delegation head Colin Walters, Group Manager, International Group, Australian Department of Education, told mediapersons.
Earlier, the nine-member Australian education delegation met officials of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, following which the two countries decided to form a JWG primarily to 'review, monitor and regulate the education agents' and develop an 'effective pre-departure orientation programme' for Indian students.
The delegation would also undertake a visit to eight Indian cities between July 6 and 15 to meet state government ministers, politicians, students and parents 'to listen to their concerns and to reassure them of Australia’s commitment to the security of Indian students'. Walters said the delegation would visit Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Kolkata.
Nearly, 20 Indian students have been injured so far in racial attacks in Australia, while the education of foreign students generated a whopping US $12.54 billion in 2008. There is about a million-strong Indian student community among foreign students in that country.
“Both sides felt that regulating education agents was very important to ensure the safety of students,” K Mohandas, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said.
Paul Evans, Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police and a member of the delegation, admitted that racism was a factor for the attacks, but said the attacks were more cases of robberies. Indian or South Asian students worked hard at petrol stations, convenient stores and drove taxis and were, thus, targeted while walking or using public transport, he explained. He maintained that the Australian police had increased the number of detectives, have made arrests and charged the accused in almost all the attacks so far.
Earlier, the nine-member Australian education delegation met officials of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, following which the two countries decided to form a JWG primarily to 'review, monitor and regulate the education agents' and develop an 'effective pre-departure orientation programme' for Indian students.
The delegation would also undertake a visit to eight Indian cities between July 6 and 15 to meet state government ministers, politicians, students and parents 'to listen to their concerns and to reassure them of Australia’s commitment to the security of Indian students'. Walters said the delegation would visit Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Kolkata.
Nearly, 20 Indian students have been injured so far in racial attacks in Australia, while the education of foreign students generated a whopping US $12.54 billion in 2008. There is about a million-strong Indian student community among foreign students in that country.
“Both sides felt that regulating education agents was very important to ensure the safety of students,” K Mohandas, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said.
Paul Evans, Assistant Commissioner of Victoria Police and a member of the delegation, admitted that racism was a factor for the attacks, but said the attacks were more cases of robberies. Indian or South Asian students worked hard at petrol stations, convenient stores and drove taxis and were, thus, targeted while walking or using public transport, he explained. He maintained that the Australian police had increased the number of detectives, have made arrests and charged the accused in almost all the attacks so far.
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