New problems for international students in Australia

From the Australian

AUSTRALIA is in denial on racially motivated attacks against international students and has failed to take action to deal with the issue, an internationally respected Australian academic has told a major conference in Switzerland.

Melbourne University professor Simon Marginson, delivering a keynote address to the World Universities Forum in Davos, said the Australian government was trying to spin itself out of crisis following this month's murder of Indian accountancy graduate Nitin Garg in a west Melbourne park. "The Australian government is in denial," Professor Marginson told the high-powered meeting of academics. "Racist targeting is involved (in the attacks). Indian students do have a special problem. And there isn't enough official and civil concern about international student security in Australia."

...

"Australian leaders had, time and again, reassured India that Australian authorities were treating the assaults with utmost seriousness," the statement said. "However, the incidents seem to be continuing."

In his address on Saturday, Professor Marginson told the World Universities Forum there had been only "modest" increases in policing at trouble spots. He accused Australian politicians of implying to India that greater action was being taken.