After two more Indians, aged 20 and 22, were attacked in Australia on 26th January, the Oz police arrested five people, hence proving their intentions to take quick actions against the culprits.

The Australia government has shown its concern for the recent spate of racial issues and has taken ample measures to stop them. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s nephew, Van Thanh Rudd, recently took part in a protest in opposition to all these incidents happening against the Indians.

Immigration minister Chris Evans condemned these attacks and said that a bunch of idiots are responsible for executing these attacks on Indians.

Despite all these incidents, statistics point out towards the direction that India is the third most represented country when it comes to people getting citizenship in Australia. Other two countries are Britain and China.

An Indian, Banaisha, who recently took an oath at a Citizenship ceremony in Australia, was found saying that neither she nor any of her relatives have experienced any racial attacks so far, reports by HT (http://www.hindustantimes.com/rssfeed/world/Despite-assaults-Indians-queue-up-for-citizenship/Article1-502087.aspx) confirmed the statement.

In another story (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/newest-citizens-unfazed-by-racist-attacks/story-e6frg6nf-1225823755553), new Australian citizens Suresh and Jyoti, the couple who arrived in Australia five years ago, said that they never experienced any attacks of racial nature ever in the country. The couple, along with their daughters, came to take part in the citizenship ceremony and cleared that they never felt threatened in Australia.

Evans welcomed these new citizens and marked Australia Day in a grand style!

The much talked about debate about the republican Australia which was thought to be suppressed has come to the surface again. Pressure for another mandate to be held is on the rise.

The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) feels that a large part of the Australian population would be in favor of the mandate. However, the Australian Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition feel that this is not an apt time to discuss the issue. Here, it has to be remembered that both the leaders have republican views.

A similar mandate was held ten years back in 1999 when two thirds of the Australian citizens voted for the issue. Inspite of it, the motion was denied. According to ARM in a recent poll conducted showed 59% of the citizens preferring Australia to be a republic nation.

The Real Republic Organization head – David Muir feels that as a Republic nation, the country would have a separate identity and would be known as an individual nation. Otherwise, the Queen of the United Kingdom continues to be the head of the government. This way, the national identity is difficult to establish.

However, Mr. Rudd feels that this referendum is not the issue to be discussed with all hype surrounding on the country’s amended immigration policies. Other top officials also agree to it, some feeling that the time would be after the Queen’s reign is over.

Although the views differ for different diplomats, all that could be done is to wait and watch for what might happen next.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd expressed “sorry” in front of the whole nation. Almost 70 years back, up to 10,000 British children were shipped to Canada and Australia to enhance the “white stock” in Australia.

According to the British parliamentary report, the step was intended to “maintain the racial unity of the empire.” Some of them were taken from their premises without informing their parents and were promised a better future ahead.

The worst thing is that they were forced to work in some bad conditions after reaching their new home. Above all, some children were told that their parents are dead. The Child Migrant Programme was intended to offer a better future to disadvantaged children, but a majority of them were forced under labor.

Mr. Rudd apologized for this “ugly” deed by the country in the 1940s. He said that the country is extremely sorry for the emotional and physical sufferings that were embedded on those poor and innocent children that time. Tears came out flowing from his eyes, while he was uttering those words of apology.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on his visit to India ensured that Indian students are safe in his country! He further explained that the Australian government is involved in taking all the “physically possible” steps for the safety of all the international students who come from all over the globe to study in Australia.

According to his statement, Indian students are welcome guests in their country and play a critical role in enhancing the “Bilateral Relationship” between the two countries. Rudd further added that students from India are the future of business ventures for both Australia as well as India.

He said that his country is looking forward to improve its engagements with India, which is calculated to be one of the strongest economies of the world in future. Rudd confirmed that the country wants its foreign students to stay together. Also, he is really “disgusted” with these racial attacks and would ensure that these incidents won’t happen again.

With assurance coming in from such a credible source, it seems that Australia is seriously involved in assuring the safety of International students in a major way!

Recently, the Australian Parliament witnessed a major debate between the Australian Prime Minister - Kevin Rudd and the Leader of Opposition – Malcolm Turnbull. The key area of discussion was the impact of the government’s immigration policies.

However, the Mr. Rudd feels that the situation is much better than what it was before during the previous government.

The debate came into the picture when a group of Sri Lankan illegal immigrants were caught trying to venture in to the Australian domains. It was intercepted by the Indonesian navy. More than 250 people at the Indonesian port of Merak. Of these, around 150 men refused to food and drink leading to a hunger strike. This was an urge to lead to a faster solution to their problem. The strike finally came to an end on 17th October.

Another similar instance was a boat found with 42 people seeking shelter on the west coast of Australia.

The above mentioned examples clearly sited the increase in the number of illegal immigrants trying to walk into the country via the Indonesian coastline. In order to stop such intrusion, the Australian Prime Minister is on a quest to negotiate an agreement with Jakarta to stop such transits by refugees.

Sydney, Sep 17: Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister warned the Indian students to stay away from any parade after the remorseless racial attack on Indians recently in Melbourne.

Rudd further added that Australia is a law-abiding nation and every resident should adhere to the laws. He strictly elaborated that people should stay away from breaking any laws, especially after the fuel that has been created, courtesy the recent incidents between Oz and Indian citizens.

In a recent occurrence, three Indians were slammed by a group of more than 70 Aussies and were commanded to go back to their own country (read more Another Oz Racial Attack on Indians!). These attacks have caused a sense of clamor in India.

Again, it is worth thinking that is racism only prevalent in Australia? With people from different culture and religion living in India, is racism not a matter of concern in India too? Then why Australia always becomes the point of target every single time? In addition, why should an attack by few Oz demolish the reputation of the whole country? Australia has by now given and will continue to give plenty of opportunities to the Indian students – be it in the field of education, job, living options and so on.

Also, the regular concerns by Australian ministers are assuring that Australia is still one of the prospective countries to craft ones future. So, there is no need to panic!