I have been deeply concerned, about the incidents of assaults, on Indian students, which have come to our notice since the last week of May. To assess the situation personally, I utilized the earliest opportunity to visit Australia, for in-depth talks with the Australian leadership on the issue of the safety and security of our students, for an early solution to matters pertaining to difficulties being experienced by them, with respect to academic issues and facilities at their educational institutions.

2. While attending the Pacific Island Forum-Post Forum’s Dialogue meeting at Cairns(Australia)-which took place on 7th August morning, I had detailed discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, first over lunch and thereafter followed by talks. I also met Australian PM Kevin Rudd in a 20 minute closed door meeting. Both these leaders told me that they were ‘personally appalled by the incidents of assaults’. They gave me their categorical assurance that the present Australian Government was committed to finding an early and lasting solution to the problems which have been highlighted by our students. Australian society is a multi-cultural one where approx. 250,000 persons of Indian origin, as long-term residents, have made significant contributions to the Australian society.

3. Arriving in Sydney on 6th August(Thursday) en-route to Cairns, I spent the full day in Sydney meeting prominent Indians settled in and around the city who have achieved prominence in the Australian society. These people informed me that their fruitful and long-term stay in Australia was a clear example of the open and tolerant way of life in Australia and the recent incidents were only an aberration, which were unfairly highlighted in Indian media as being racist. From my interaction with the Indian community, it emerged that there are many inter-connected issues concerning students problems which need further investigation, like the role of some Indian origin entrepreneurs/businessmen acting as educational/immigration agents as also of Indian businessmen under-paying them in part time jobs, in violation of the Australian prescribed minimum wages. They also highlighted that the quality and the inadequate infrastructure of some educational institutions/colleges needed to be looked into. I exhorted the Indian community to enhance their interaction with our student community in order to, help them better assimilate in their new surroundings.

4. Separately, I met the Indian students in Sydney and heard their grievances as also suggestions. A section of the students was especially concerned at the incidents involving pre-mature closure of certain colleges like the Sterling College in Sydney with resultant hardship for our students. It was the desire of these students that at the earliest opportunity, Australian authorities should be impressed upon to have them accommodated in other similar colleges for their courses to continue.

5. In Sydney, I also had a detailed meeting with the Premier of New South Wales State, Hon. Nathan Rees, in his office, where senior officials of Police, Education and other Departments were also present. Premier Rees assured me that in conjunction with our Consulate in Sydney they had taken measures in advance, in susceptible areas, to prevent incidents of assaults by increasing police patrolling, better lighting etc. Measures like greater interaction with the Indian students community and counselling by local police had resulted in far fewer incidents in the State of New South Wales as compared to the State of Victoria. He assured me that his Government was determined to prevent such attacks and would do its’ utmost to make the stay of our students’ problem free. As he is scheduled to visit India soon to inaugurate New South Wales Office in Mumbai, he promised to up-date me of further remedial measures undertaken when he visits India.

6. In my interaction with our students including those from the Harris Park area of Sydney, while hearing their individual problems, experiences and suggestions for improving the situation, I did emphasize to them that they needed to abide by Australian laws and regulations and take required common precautions while moving-about in the city especially late at night. I also told them to ensure cross-checking of the bonafides of educational institutions and convey this very message to other prospective students in India intending to join education institutions in Australia.

7. Two clear problems emerged from such discussions. First, the students’ anxiety about colleges like Sterling having gone bankrupt with the resultant hardship and loss of academic semester and the serious problems being faced by our students undergoing Aircraft Pilot training where vast sums of money had been paid by them after taking Bnak loans in India but the flying training still to be completed. I took up both these issues with the Australian Government, at the highest levels, for an early solution.

8. On the matter of attacks on our students, Australian PM Kevin Rudd conveyed his appreciation of the position taken by our side. He promised that Australia would do everything required, to make our students feel at home by addressing their specific problems, concerning the lack of suitable accommodation and deficient infrastructure at educational institutions.

9. After the Cairns meeting, I traveled to Melbourne(August 8) and attended a Reception where prominent members of the Indian community from the State of Victoria and Indian students studying in various institutions in Melbourne had been invited. In my brief address to them, I underlined the utmost importance GOI places, on their welfare and safety and told them of my extensive discussions earlier in Sydney and Cairns. I informed the students and the Indian community that I had instructed the Indian High Commission in Canberra and the Consulates in Sydney and Melbourne to ensure with immediate effect the presence of a dedicated India-based official to receive and attend to the grievances of Indian students every Friday afternoon. Here again the students brought to my notice problems being faced by them due to closure of a few colleges(like the MIC) and consequently their tuition expenses getting stuck with the management. Students also highlighted the need for greater sensitivity on the part of local police and pre-departure orientation in India before their travel to Australia.

10. I met the Premier of Victoria State, Hon. John Brumby on Sunday Aug 9th and once again I was assured that the Government of Victoria State was fully resolved, to tackle the various issues relating to students’ welfare. PM Brumby told me that his Government was recruiting 120 additional police officers, to improve the security environment at sensitive places in addition to measures like a dedicated telephone hot-line operational round-the-clock, for registration of students’ complaints. Measures were also being taken by his Government to toughen laws relating to race and hate crimes. Regarding closure of colleges he admitted that such problems had been brought to his attention and to assist the affected students, some measures are being worked out, to help students transfer to other similar colleges. Brumby would be visiting India in September and promised to give me a further up-date on various other measures his Government was undertaking to improve our students’ confidence.

11. In Melbourne, more than 47,000 Indian students, are present out of approx. 97,000 Indian students in Australia, and a rapid increase has occurred in a very short span of time in the last three years especially in vocational training colleges where some educational and immigration providers seem to have bent rules and cut corners.

12. I also utilized the opportunity to visit Sunshine Railway Station in Western Melbourne where the local Police Chief showed me recent measures undertaken like the stationing of mobile CCTV camera fitted vans and the control room where such footage was being constantly monitored. Measures like these have been initiated by the police over the last three months to provide assurance to students to travel from Suburbs to the inner city for educational area to work places.

13. Australian Dy. PM Julia Gillard, [who is also the Federal Minister for Education] is scheduled to visit India in end-August. She has announced the establishment of a Committee, to review the entire system of international education in Australia and report to her Government, the necessary changes which need to be brought about.

14. My visit to Australia, has thus afforded me a first-had opportunity, to not only understand the concerns of our students there but at the same time convey in a forceful manner, to the Australian Government the seriousness with which the Government of India views the safety and welfare of our students. Over the next few months, high level visits from Australia are scheduled. It will give me a chance to learn from them, what additional measures Government of Australia has been able to implement. I am sure the concerns that I have conveyed to the Australian leadership will result in a tangible improvement in the situation, very soon.

New Delhi
August 17, 2009