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Diplomatic ties with India need work

News Clippings AAP, February 04 2010

Australia’s diplomatic relations with India need to be worked on, says a federal Labor MP whose Melbourne electorate has been the scene of at least one of the attacks.

India’s high commissioner to Australia, Sujata Singh, is returning to New Dehli to brief her government officials on Australian government plans to ensure the safety of Indian students.

Government backbencher Kelvin Thomson said it would be “very unfortunate” if attacks on Indian students damaged Australia’s diplomatic ties with India.

“The diplomatic relationship is clearly something that we all have to work on,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“We have to work on it, the Indians have to work on it.”

Family First senator Steve Fielding lashed out at Victorian Premier John Brumby for criticising the Indian media’s reporting of violence in Melbourne.

“No it’s not wise, frankly,” he told reporters in Canberra on Thursday, adding all Victorians were concerned about the violence.

“Having a crack at the Indian media, I don’t think, is helpful at all.

“We do have a problem in Victoria of Indians being attacked and it needs to be addressed.”