Victoria Premier reassures safety of Indian students in Australia
New Delhi:Victoria's Premier John Brumby, who is on an official visit to India, has reassured the public about the safety of Indian students in Australia. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Brumby described Australia is one of the safest countries in the world and regretted the crime incidents
that had occurred. "Melbourne is one the very safest city anywhere in the world.
We have had regrettably a small number of incidents, a crime which have been
racially-based. I am absolutely clear as Premier that any crime, but particularly any racially-based crime is completely unacceptable to me, and to state and to our government," said Brumby. Brumby acknowledged that the recent spate of attacks on Indian students
certainly affected the image of Victoria and Australia in India. He said measures
have been undertaken to ensure the safety of students and to make their stay in
Australia more productive and peaceful. Brumby began his India visit with a game
of cricket and addressed students at a college here. He assured the students of
quality education and said that the government would keep a check on private institutes,
which offer short-term courses. Some private institutes have been in the limelight
because of the recent spate of attacks as well as for being closed down in the
mid-term leaving students helpless. He also regretted the cancellation of his
visit to Mumbai due to unavoidable security advices. "I changed the programme
on the bases of security advices. I don't want to comment on security advices.
It's not uncommon for people in my position sometimes. I was disappointed that
I didn't get to Mumbai because I was very much looking forward to it. But the
advice of Victoria Police and my department was that I shouldn't have travelled
here at that point of time, but I hope to get back to Mumbai at some stage in
the future," said Brumby.
