Interview with Sky TV, David Speers and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith, India
Subjects: security issues and assaults on Indian students in Australia
Transcript, proof copy E&OE
3 March 2010
DAVID SPEERS: Now let's go to India, where Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has been this week, inspecting some of the venues for the upcoming Hockey World Cup and also the Commonwealth Games in October. There have, of course, been grave security fears about threats to athletes and whether they will be secure enough. And, of course, there have also been questions in India about the recent attacks here in Australia on Indian students.
Joining us now Stephen Smith, live from New Delhi.
Minister, thank you for your time.
First, on the games security, I know you've been looking at the venues there for the Hockey World Cup and for the Commonwealth Games. Are you satisfied that Australian athletes will be safe?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well firstly, I inspected yesterday the Nehru Stadium which was the main stadium for athletics, the main stadium for the Commonwealth Games. Later this afternoon I'll be speaking to my counterpart, S M Krishna, the External Affairs Minister. And last night I went to the Hockey World Cup to see Australia play India and, of course, the hockey venue will also be a venue for the Commonwealth Games and previously I've inspected the swimming venue.
And two things: firstly, on the basis of the advice I've got, the facilities will be ready. Secondly, whilst it's a regrettable fact of the modern day that we have to be ever conscious of terrorists and security threats, I'm satisfied to-date that all of the coordination and cooperation that is required for security for the Commonwealth Games is in-hand. The Indian authorities have been consulting with us and other Commonwealth countries. We've, of course, been tic-tacking with other Commonwealth countries, so we're satisfied with the cooperation to-date.
But India understands, as does Australia, as do other Commonwealth countries, that we need to be ever vigilant right up until the last moment of the Games.
DAVID SPEERS: I know Minister you've also been questioned over there from Indian journalists about the attacks here on Indian students in Australia. How much of a concern is this over there and have you been able to alleviate some of those concerns, have you been able to address the fears that Indians do have about what they may face if they come to visit Australia?
STEPHEN SMITH: I've just come from St Stephens Campus which is an undergraduate institution, where I spoke to their assembly, spoke to students and then spoke to Indian media. I've made the point that we continue to very strongly say that Australia is a safe place to come for a good experience generally and a good educational experience.
There have been, in the last couple of years, some regrettable attacks on Indian students in Australia. I made a major statement to the Parliament and provided the Indian Government with a comprehensive dossier of all the efforts that the Australian Government and the State and Territory Governments, in particular the Victorian Government, had been making. And also underlining the point that whilst regrettably it seems to be the case that a small number of these attacks have had racist or racial overtones, we regard that as being absolutely contemptible.
I think that the Indian Government understands we're doing everything we can. But we should just acknowledge upfront that this has damaged Australia's reputation and standing in India. And we need to mount a real effort to overcome that, to make the point that these regrettable and terrible assaults, which we condemn, don't reflect the relationship between Australia and India, don't reflect the modern Australia. We need to show India more of the modern, tolerant multicultural Australia and that's part of my effort here in the course of this week.
DAVID SPEERS: You said there, that this has damaged Australia's standing in India. Do you expect that is going to come at a cost either in tourism or trade to Australia?
STEPHEN SMITH: I think its two levels. Firstly, I think the Indian Government now fully understands and appreciates the efforts we've been making and understands some of the causes, some of the law and order causes of the assaults. I think we've got more ground to make up in the wider Indian public, because this has been the focus of media attention for some time.
It certainly appears to be the case that the number of Indian students coming to Australia will go down in the short-term. I think there's a combination of factors, such as the global financial crisis generally.
Secondly, we should be, I think, frank about the adverse publicity that's come to Australia in the eyes of Indian students. Also we've recently changed the arrangements to make sure that those people who come for education come for a genuine educational purpose and my colleague, Immigration Minister Senator Evans has made those announcements recently.
So I'm expecting that there will be a reduction. Whether that's a reduction in the long-term, time will tell. We currently have about 100,000 Indian students in Australia, with nearly 50,000 in Victoria. So there may well be a dip, but that's for understandable reasons.
In terms of the wider trade and economic and investment relationship, that goes from strength to strength. India is now Australia's fourth largest export market. We expect it will become our third largest export market in the near future and one of the things I've already spoken about has been bringing to a conclusion a study on the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement, because that would also enhance the economic engagement between our two countries. And my colleague Simon Crean will be taking that up when he visits India in the next month or so.
DAVID SPEERS: Okay. Just finally and briefly Minister before we go, on another matter, Israel. Are you satisfied so far with the cooperation Australian authorities, the Australian Federal Police in particular, have received, as they investigate the use of three forged Australian passports in the assassination of the Hamas leader in Dubai?
STEPHEN SMITH: Firstly, I'm not proposing to engage in a running commentary on that matter. The Government asked the Federal Police to conduct an investigation into the abuse of Australian passports. The Federal Police, with Passport Office officers, are as we speak effectively travelling to Israel to conduct that investigation. So, I'm not proposing to give a running commentary on that. I will wait until the Federal Police conclude their investigation and report that investigation. And in the meantime, I will the outcome of that.
I again make the point, as I did to the Israeli Ambassador, that lack of cooperation we would, of course, view adversely. But it's best, in these circumstances, to let the appropriate authorities, in this case the Federal Police supported by the Passport Office, to conduct and complete that investigation.
DAVID SPEERS: All right. Stephen Smith, thank you.
STEPHEN SMITH: Thanks very much David. Thank you.
[END]
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