Australian govt ignores advice on Indian students: report

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jan 23 (PTI) A top body that represents
Australia's universities has accused both state and federal
governments of ignoring warnings issued by it on problems
faced by overseas students, including Indians, in the country.
Universities Australia, which represents 39 universities,
said it had alerted governments to problems relating to
student safety, poor-quality colleges, lack of concessions on
public transport and immigration matters for two years ago.
"It (Universities Australia) passed on to Australian
authorities warnings from officials in China and India
relating to student safety. It also conveyed to governments
student disenchantment resulting from a perception they were
being treated like cash cows," 'The Age' reported on Saturday.
The daily said Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard's
office, Immigration Minister Chris Evans' office and Premier
John Brumby's office were unable to confirm that the body had
alerted them to such problems two years ago.
However, Universities Australia Chief Executive Glenn
Withers said that he was disappointed as state and federal
governments did not treat the problems as a priority when they
were told about them two years ago but acted with urgency only
when violent attacks on Indian students attracted intense
media attention. (More) PTI