Victoria Premier reassures safety of Indian students in AustraliaIndia News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Victoria's Premier John Brumby, who is on an official visit to India, on Thursday reassured the public about the safety of Indian students in Australia. Talking to reporters here, Brumby described Australia is one of the safest countries in the world and regretted the crime incidents that had occurred. "Melbourne is one the very safest city anywhere in the world. We have had regrettably a small number of incidents, a crime which have been racially-based. I am absolutely clear as Premier that any crime, but particularly any racially-based crime is completely unacceptable to me, and to state and to our government," said Brumby. Brumby acknowledged that the recent spate of attacks on Indian students certainly affected the image of Victoria and Australia in India. He said measures have been undertaken to ensure the safety of students and to make their stay in Australia more productive and peaceful. Brumby began his India visit with a game of cricket and addressed students at a college here. He assured the students of quality education and said that the government would keep a check on private institutes, which offer short-term courses. Some private institutes have been in the limelight because of the recent spate of attacks as well as for being closed down in the mid-term leaving students helpless. He also regretted the cancellation of his visit to Mumbai due to unavoidable security advices. "I changed the programme on the bases of security advices. I don't want to comment on security advices. It's not uncommon for people in my position sometimes. I was disappointed that I didn't get to Mumbai because I was very much looking forward to it. But the advice of Victoria Police and my department was that I shouldn't have travelled here at that point of time, but I hope to get back to Mumbai at some stage in the future," said Brumby.