The Hon Stephen Smith MP
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
Transcript E&OE
1 July 2009
Interview on Sky TV, Kieran Gilbert
Excerpts
KIERAN GILBERT: I'm joined by the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith. Good morning Mr Smith.
STEPHEN SMITH: Good morning.
KIERAN GILBERT: I want to ask you first of all about reports in today's Sydney Morning Herald that COAG, the Prime Minister and the Premiers tomorrow are going to agree on a new strategy for the treatment of foreign students, to improve the treatment of foreign students, to ease concerns off the back of the attacks on Indian students in Australia. What do you know about it and what's the aim of it?
STEPHEN SMITH: Firstly, as you know the Government's been taking the attacks on Indian students very seriously. We've condemned them, we've been working closely with the state authorities, particularly Victoria and New South Wales and their police authorities to make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. And we also make it clear to people coming to Australia we are generally a safe society and we welcome people.
But we are very concerned. Julia Gillard, as Education Minister, has been working closely with her counterpart. She had a meeting with all her ministers in Tasmania last month. And, in COAG today and tomorrow the Prime Minister will join with the Premiers and the Chief Ministers to underline our nation's concern about the events and to make sure that Indian students feel safe and secure and the Indian people are confident about Australia as a destination, but also to look at whether there's more that we can do. But I'll leave that for the Prime Minister and the Premiers and the Chief Ministers to deal with and announce in the next 24 hours.
KIERAN GILBERT: Apparently there's a delegation already in India. They're going to be meeting senior ministers in Delhi. What's the make-up of that delegation and what is their aim?
STEPHEN SMITH: There's an education delegation, effectively, in India as we speak, just as in Australia at the moment there is a group of Indian journalists here. And the aim of that is essentially exchange of information and communication.
We don't want the only view of Australia to be some terrible and tragic incidents, which we have condemned.
We are, generally, a safe society. We welcome not just Indian students, but all students from other countries.
KIERAN GILBERT: Are you still satisfied that these weren't race-based attacks?
STEPHEN SMITH: As I've said consistently, I'd prefer to leave that to the authorities as they bring the culprits to justice. Some indications suggest that some may have been. Other indications suggest not. But I'd much prefer to leave that to the relevant authorities as they bring the culprits to justice.
But everything we are doing in terms of our communications with the Indian authorities and the Indian people in India or bringing people to Australia to observe themselves is aimed at making sure there's confidence in Australia as a safe destination because, generally of course, that's very true.
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