Australian Deputy PM promises zero-tolerance for violence against Indian students

September 6th, 2009 SYDNEY - The Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) on Sunday urged the Australian Government to take steps for the welfare of students who are stranded after the closure of private colleges. The FISA blamed Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard for failing to stop "the spin on the state of affairs" within her portfolio of Education.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Allaying fears that Australia is a racist country, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard Monday reassured the Indian student community of her country's safety record and appealed to them to come and study there. Beginning her five-day visit to India Monday in a bid to boost bilateral ties in fields ranging from business to education, she met with Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and addressed students of the prestigious Lady Sri Ram College earlier in the day.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julian Gillard's condemnation of the alleged race attacks on Indian students drew mixed response from the students of the Delhi University with whom she interacted here Monday. While many called the Australian government's response to the attacks as sham, some said that it was more of a "media hype" and such incidents can take place in any part of the world.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Australian government would ensure that student victims of racist attacks either get a seat in a different college or are refunded the entire college fee, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said here Monday. Gillard, who is on a five-day visit to India, was interacting with students of the Lady Shri Ram College.

August 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, begins her inaugural five-day visit to India on 31 August. The visit, which will take her to New Delhi and Chennai, will strengthen Australia's relations with India.

August 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Australian has assured External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna during his recent visit to that country of taking a number of measures to ensure the safety of Indian students studying there.

July 9th, 2009 MUMBAI - An Australian delegation, which is on a visit to India, has said that Australia has no tolerance for racist attacks and that overseas students should take precautions to keep themselves safe. Interacting with reporters here on Wednesday, Paul Evans, Assistant Commissioner for Victoria Police, said Australia has no tolerance for racial attacks and some of the offenders who have been detained would be dealt with severely.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With attacks on Indian students creating widespread concern in India, Australia Monday underlined its policy of zero tolerance for racism and announced a slew of steps, including review of a legislation, to ensure the safety of international students. A nine-member Australian delegation is on an eight-city tour of the country in a damage control exercise aimed at cushioning its lucrative education industry from the ripple effects of negative publicity due to the attacks on Indian students.

June 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy says every possible effort will be made to ensure that attacks on Indian students in Australia are not repeated, adding that the authorities will "pursue those responsible" for the assaults. In a letter to the Non-Aligned Students and Youth Movement (NASYM) that had staged a demonstration here June 18 against the attacks on Indian students in Australia, McCarthy said: "The Australian government will make every effort to ensure that attacks are not repeated and that Australia remains a preferred destination for students from around the world." He said that the Australian government is working closely with the Indian government on the issue.

June 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The situation of Indian students in Australia was improving with constant monitoring by authorities in both countries, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said Tuesday while an official from the southern continent stressed that her government had a "zero tolerance policy on racism". Police is taking action one after another and things are under control; maybe there are stray incidents here and there, Ravi told reporters after his meeting with Lisa Paul, secretary in Australia's department of education, employment and workplace relations.

June 23rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Australian authorities on Tuesday proposed to launch a 24-hr helpline for Indian students, following Indian Government's request to the Australian authorities to provide safety and security to Indian students in Australia. In a meeting between Minister for Overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi and Australian Education Secretary Lisa Paul in the capital, Paul said that Australia is committed to have a helpline for Indian students to lodge their complaints and to seek other support.

June 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The growing resentment against ongoing racial attacks on Indian students in Australia was witnessed on Thursday when a group of youngsters demonstrated near the Australian Embassy. The protest demonstration was organised by the youth wing of Congress party.

June 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said his government will engage with Australian authorities in a "high-level dialogue" to ensure the security of Indian students in the wake of what he called "senseless violence" against them. The government also cautioned Indian students in that country to "show restraint" and not retaliate.

June 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Tuesday urged Indian students studying in Australia to concentrate on their studies and exercise restraint rather than retaliate. Krishna said, the government had got assurance from the Australian authorities that full care will be taken about safety of Indian students on its soil.

May 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Condemning allegedly racist attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, the government Wednesday said it will impress upon the Australian authorities that such attacks should not be permitted and the culprits should be brought to justice. "I have been appalled by the attack on our students in Melbourne.