(a) whether the Prime Minister of the State of the Victoria, Australia visited India
recently and had meetings in regard to the alleged racial attacks on Indians;
(b) if so, the details of the discussion held and the outcome thereof;
(c) whether the visiting dignitary has given any assurance
about the safety of Indians in Australia;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken or being taken by Australian Government
for safety and security of Indians in that country?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a) to (e): Yes, Sir. Hon. John Brumby, Premier of Victoria, Australia visited India from
22 Sept. 2009 to 1st Oct. 2009. Details are placed on the Table on the House, as Annexure.
Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.198
for answer on 2nd December 2009
Hon. John Brumby, Premier of Victoria, Australia visited India from 22 Sept. 2009 to 1st
Oct.2009. During his visit, he met the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, Minister for
Human Resource Development, Chief Minister of Delhi and Chief Secretary of Karnataka, to
reassure them that Victorian Government, alongwith the Federal Australian Government, is
doing its utmost to protect the interests of Indian students in the state of Victoria.
The visiting Australian dignitary was emphatically conveyed Government of India’s deep concern
on the recent incidents of attacks on Indians in Australia, particularly the recent attack in
Epping, Melbourne and the lack of any information/data on the prosecutions and convictions on
incidents of attacks on Indians in the recent past.
The premier of Victoria shared our concerns on such instances of continuing attacks on Indian
nationals in Australia and said that such attacks are indeed a matter of great concern to him
and his Government. He further said the Indian Community in Australia is well established and
in these long years has not faced such assaults. The recent incidents are an aberration and his
(state) Government as also the Federal Government (of Australia), are addressing this problem
in right earnest. He assured that the well being of the Indian community in Melbourne is their
prime concern. With a view to ensure this, his Government has given more powers to the police
to deal with crimes, especially those committed with a racial overtone or motivation, and has
made the laws more stringent, to enable the judiciary to hand down more severe punishment,
whenever a crime is committed out of racial hatred. He also stated that in the recent
incident in Epping, the Australian police apprehended four suspects within hours of the
incident and interrogated them.
As a result of a series of discussions with visiting high level Australian delegations
and demarches made by Indian Mission/Posts in Australia, the Australian Government has
taken various steps. They have announced a series of measures, including stricter policing
in Victoria and NSW, aimed at ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals especially
in Australia. These steps have been useful and the incidence of attacks has decreased.