Melbourne, Feb 21(ANI): Victoria Premier John Brumby has reiterated that assaults on Indian citizens and students in Melbourne are of great concern to him and the Australian Government.

Brumby said that the government is working hard to bring down the crime rate, and Victoria is Australia’s safest state.

“Victoria’s 150,000- strong Indian community is a vital part of multicultural Victoria. Earlier this month, the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria released the results of an independent survey that examined the concerns of students studying in Victoria. Of the 513 respondents, 76 percent were happy with their course and 72 percent felt safe in the areas where they work and study,” Brumby wrote in an article for the Age.

“Despite this positive result, assaults on Indian students are of great concern to me. There have been some disturbing incidents, and some of these incidents have had racist elements. I have said the rate of assaults is too high and action is being taken on assaults, whatever their motivation,” he added.

Brumby further said that progress has been made, including, boosting police patrols in high risk areas like railway stations and toughening up police powers to search for weapons.

“Last year I funded an additional 120 police on the beat, on top of the 350 we are delivering during this term. The Chief Commissioner has said those police will focus on crime hot-spots, and we are providing them with additional powers to search for weapons, move people on from trouble spots and fine people on the spot for disorderly conduct,” Brumby said.

“We have also established a 24-hour international student care service, an international student welcome booth at Melbourne Airport and increased funding for the Indian International Student Advisory Service,” he added.

He also stressed that any attack in the community is an attack upon the entire state, and an attack motivated by race or prejudice is particularly disgraceful. (ANI)