(a) whether it is a fact that Indians are being attacked in Australia even now;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of incidents of attacks during the current year;
(c) whether the Australian Government has failed in checking these incidents; and
(d) if so, the steps taken or being taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a): Yes Sir.
(b): 86 incidents of attacks on Indians in Australia have come to our notice since January 2010. Details are
attached at Annexure-I.
(c) & (d): The Australian authorities have registered all the cases which have been brought to their notice
and are investigating the same. Compared to last year, the number of incidents has come down in recent months.
In some cases, including in the case of Nitin Garg’s murder, perpetrators have been identified, matter is in
the court and the decision is expected soon.
Our High Commission and the Consulates have taken up the incidents of assaults on members of Indian community
including students with the Australian authorities, at federal and state levels.
Over the last two years several Ministerial visits, have taken place to Australia on this issue,
the latest being my visit to Australia in June 2010. The High Commissioner has also had several
meetings in 2009 and 2010 with the concerned Ministers at the federal level and Premiers of several
states (NSW, Victoria, Queensland, etc.) as well as senior officials and conveyed our concerns in
the matter.