Post by gigteam on Jun 7, 2009 9:04:11 GMT
Australia to introduce tougher laws against hate crimes
Melbourne: The string of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne has led the provincial government of Victoria to push for a plan that would have tougher sentences for hate crimes. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria.
The damage control action comes within months of Australia launching a multi-million dollar effort to woo Indian students.
In a plan being pushed by Attorney-General Rob Hulls, judges would have to take into account "hatred for or prejudice against a particular group of people" as an aggravating factor when sentencing offenders, The Age reported on Tuesday.
Tougher sentences would apply to crimes deemed to be based on victims' race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
The state government is moving to crack down on violent attacks against Indian students, homosexuals and other targeted groups.
Indians form the second highest population of overseas students in Australia, after the Chinese. About 90,000 Indian students are currently studying in Australia.
"The Age understands ministers distressed at the spate of assaults on Indians in Melbourne are also considering a longer-term proposal to make 'hate crime' a new statutory offence."
There have been four attacks on Indian students in quick succession in the two largest cities of Australia, Melbourne and Sydney. The first took place on May 9 and the most recent one a week ago.
Three of the attacks on Indian students took place in Melbourne. Sravan Kumar Theerthala, 25, was hit with a screwdriver, Baljinder Singh was robbed and stabbed, and Sourabh Sharma, 21, suffered a fractured cheek bone and a broken tooth.
In Sydney, hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received 30 per cent burns after a petrol bomb was hurled through the window of his Harris Park home.
Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has defended the actions of police after images of officers using force to break up a protest by thousands of Indians in central Melbourne caused outrage in India.
La Trobe University nursing student Eric Leroy told The Age he saw the police bashing protesters at the demonstration near Flinders Street Station.
He added that police dislocated his thumb and broke his glasses as they moved to end the sit-in.
see more here
Melbourne: The string of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne has led the provincial government of Victoria to push for a plan that would have tougher sentences for hate crimes. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria.
The damage control action comes within months of Australia launching a multi-million dollar effort to woo Indian students.
In a plan being pushed by Attorney-General Rob Hulls, judges would have to take into account "hatred for or prejudice against a particular group of people" as an aggravating factor when sentencing offenders, The Age reported on Tuesday.
Tougher sentences would apply to crimes deemed to be based on victims' race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
The state government is moving to crack down on violent attacks against Indian students, homosexuals and other targeted groups.
Indians form the second highest population of overseas students in Australia, after the Chinese. About 90,000 Indian students are currently studying in Australia.
"The Age understands ministers distressed at the spate of assaults on Indians in Melbourne are also considering a longer-term proposal to make 'hate crime' a new statutory offence."
There have been four attacks on Indian students in quick succession in the two largest cities of Australia, Melbourne and Sydney. The first took place on May 9 and the most recent one a week ago.
Three of the attacks on Indian students took place in Melbourne. Sravan Kumar Theerthala, 25, was hit with a screwdriver, Baljinder Singh was robbed and stabbed, and Sourabh Sharma, 21, suffered a fractured cheek bone and a broken tooth.
In Sydney, hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received 30 per cent burns after a petrol bomb was hurled through the window of his Harris Park home.
Meanwhile, Chief Commissioner Simon Overland has defended the actions of police after images of officers using force to break up a protest by thousands of Indians in central Melbourne caused outrage in India.
La Trobe University nursing student Eric Leroy told The Age he saw the police bashing protesters at the demonstration near Flinders Street Station.
He added that police dislocated his thumb and broke his glasses as they moved to end the sit-in.
see more here
etc, but there is still this under current of ignorance and aggression which lets them down.
