Indian community welcomes Victorian Premier assurance against racist attacks

September 28th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Students from India, hoping to acquire a higher education degree in Australia, are likely to be the most affected by a Victorian Government move to close down St.George Enterprises, a Melbourne college. St. George Enterprises was stripped of its accreditation and surrendered its licence to teach international students because of "quality standards issues", said Lynn Glover, director of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) on Monday.

September 17th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Victoria Premier John Brumby is facing a lot of flak for not doing enough to prevent racially motivated attacks on the Indian community in his state. A trip to India next week to promote Melbourne as a safe city has turned into a monumental challenge for Brumby after another racist attack attracted fresh headlines and anti-Australian fury across India.

September 16th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Victorian Premier John Brumby said on Wednesday that the spate of racist attacks had damaged Victoria and Australia's image in India. "Some of the events of the past few months have damaged our brand and the Australian brand in India and I can only repeat that overall we remain one of the safest places in the world," The Age quoted Brumby, as saying.

August 30th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The racist violence targeting Indian students in Australia is going to have a big impact on its economy, with enrolment of Indians at Victoria's universities expected to plunge by up to 50 per cent in 2010. The shortfall, comprising existing students who plan to abandon their courses here and hundreds more who intended to enroll, but are now seeking positions at universities in other countries, will cost the Victorian economy tens of millions of dollars.

August 6th, 2009 SYDNEY - External Affairs minister S.M.Krishna on Thursday conveyed New Delhi's concerns to Australian authorities over the recent attacks on Indian students. Krishna received assurance of a firm action against all perpetrators of attacks on Indian students during his meet with New South Wales (NSW) Premier Nathan Rees.

June 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Victoria's police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has admitted that some of the attacks on Indian students were "clearly racist in motivation". Announcing a crackdown on crime at trouble spot train stations, Overland said it was clear Indian and international students had been targeted.

June 6th, 2009 SYDNEY - A prominent member of Sydney's Indian community has dismissed as "entirely futile" a planned rally here on Sunday to highlight assaults on Indian students. Dr Yadu Singh is urging people not to attend, saying it will cause a lot of inconvenience and backfire on the Indian community.

June 3rd, 2009 CANBERRA - Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday said that there is no need for an independent probe into the recent attacks on Indian students living in Australia. Talking to a news channel, Gillard said, "I think the best course of action for the time being is to let the Victorian Police go ahead with the investigation.

June 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - On social networking sites, Indian students across the globe have been expressing their anger and condemnation of the racist attacks on Indians studying in Australia. Students overseas have launched an online protest in the wake of the attacks through social networking sites Facebook and Orkut.

June 2nd, 2009 MELBOURNE - Indian students have lost confidence in Victorian Police force that racially profiles them. Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA) adviser Gautam Gupta said a series of comments from Victoria Police had prompted Sunday night's protest that was marked by violence and 18 arrests.

June 1st, 2009 MELBOURNE - Indian protesters, who were demonstrating against the recent racist attacks on Indian students, were ramrodded by security personnel during the overnight blockade of Melbourne's city streets. Protesters accused the Victoria Police of using force against them to break up their peaceful sit-in.

May 30th, 2009 SYDNEY - There have been at least 20 incidents of "curry bashing" in Sydney in the past month, but most attacks on Indian students went unreported out of fear, a community leader has revealed. Yadu Singh, a cardiologist, said violent attacks against Indian people are on the rise in Sydney.

May 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI/MELBOURNE - The Indian external affairs ministry Friday called Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy and conveyed its concerns over the allegedly racist attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, the second largest city of Australia. N. Ravi, secretary (east) in the ministry, met the Australian envoy and sought assurance about the safety of Indian students in Australia.

May 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI/MELBOURNE - With more attacks being reported on Indian students in Australia Friday, its government assured India that the students would be protected from violence that is perceived to be racist and is leading to growing insecurity among more than 80,000 students. Indian students in Melbourne are deeply concerned over the spate of attacks that has left one of them battling for life while another recuperates from a stab injury.

May 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - The Australian and Victorian governments have decided to open a help line to assist Indian students who are victims of crime. The help line will begin operating from Friday amid mounting alarm over violent racist attacks in Melbourne's western suburbs, reports The Age.