Brumby briefs Singh on measures taken for Indians' safety

Natasha Chaku

Melbourne, Feb 9 (PTI) Under pressure to check the
attacks on Indians here, Victorian premier John Brumby has met
Indian High Commissioner to Australia Sujatha Singh and
briefed her on the measures put in place to improve law and
order and the safety of foreign students in the state.
Singh's meeting with Brumby on Sunday came ahead of
her visit to New Delhi to brief the Indian government on the
steps taken by Australia to prevent attacks on Indians, mainly
in the state of Victoria.
During the meeting, issues relating to the security of
the overseas students in Melbourne came up for discussion.
Brumby discussed the various steps taken by Victorian
government to support international students in Melbourne and
assured Singh that Victoria would continue to examine how best
to further reduce the problems faced by students from India.
Victorian police chief Simon Overland, who was also
present in the meeting, outlined the measures put in place to
improve law and order in Melbourne and the safety and security
of Indian students living there, an official statement said.
The meeting followed Brumby's request after Singh made
stinging remarks against his government, saying Victoria was
in "a state of denial". She warned that attacks on Indians in
Australia will have long-term consequences unless effective
actions were taken to prevent it.

Brumby requested for a meeting with Singh after she
met Bryce complaining and criticising Victoria for falling
behind NSW, Queensland and South Australia in tackling racist
attacks.
Brumby had said that he would brief her on the
progress that had been made, including boosting police patrols
in high risk areas like railway stations and toughening up
police powers to search for weapons.
"I'll be able to inform her of all of these things and
again to reassure her that Victoria is a much safer place
than other places in Australia and indeed around the world,"
Brumby had said.
The top Indian diplomat met the premier along with
Melbourne consul General Anita Nayar.
India has called Singh for consultations in the
backdrop of continuing attacks on Indians in Australia.
The High Commissioner will be in New Delhi on February
10 and will brief Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna
and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on the situation. PTI NC
MYR