New measures to combat racism in Australia

CANBERRA - Australia will move today to further boost protection of foreign students as fears of racism and violence continue to undermine the nation's A$15.5 billion ($19.4 billion) overseas education industry.

The move, which includes a new strategy within Australia and a high-level delegation to India, comes amid reports that official figures may have understated the number of deaths of international students.

They also follow the murder of a 26-year-old Chinese accountancy student in Tasmania, reports of further assaults on Indians in Sydney, and a demand by the Indian Supreme Court for its Government to ensure the safety of nationals studying abroad.

New Delhi further intends, with Australian co-operation, to crack down on "unscrupulous" migration agents taking advantage of students planning to join the 97,000 already at universities and colleges in Australia.

Australia has been under intense fire in the Indian media after a series of brutal attacks on students in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide last month, and estimates that more than 1400 have been victims of racial abuse.

The issue strained diplomatic relations and led to urgent talks between Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.

China has also complained of violence against its nationals, confirmed tragically by the killing last week of Zhang Yu, whose body was discovered in a remote river northwest of Hobart.

Two men have been charged with her murder, and another two with failing to report the killing.

The murder shocked Tasmania, where almost 3000 foreign students contribute about A$100 million to the state's economy.

"She had come so far away from home and was in our care," Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett said.

"[International students] are very much welcome here and we will do all we can as a Parliament and as a Government to ensure their safety and sense of place is well respected and well looked after."

Violence against foreign students - many of them Indian - has caused agonised soul-searching in Australia.

Disturbing signs of Australia's dark side emerged in a Facebook group that attracted more than 64,000 with its theme that the country was full, and hate messages urging that the nation be "cleansed" of immigrants.

A collaborative study by a group of universities, conducted with 16,000 people over 11 years, further found that 85 per cent believed racial prejudice occurred, with 20 per cent personally experiencing racist abuse.

In New Delhi, the Supreme Court gave the Indian Government two weeks to detail new efforts to curb attacks on Indian students

The court said the Indian Government needed to begin a campaign to raise awareness of moves within Australia, including a new federal task force, increased policing, hotlines and other measures.

Meanwhile, Canberra is facing demands for an accurate account of deaths among overseas students.

The Melbourne Age newspaper said investigations indicated the toll was higher than the 51 deaths reported last year. While 14 cases were cited as accidents and three as deaths from illness, 34 were reported to have died from "unknown" causes, the paper said.