Australian minister reassures India on studentsAustralian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Tuesday that his government was taking all possible steps to end a string of attacks against Indians studying in the country. The allegedly racial assaults in Sydney and Melbourne have strained ties between the two nations, with India demanding protection for its 95,000-strong student community studying in Australia. Smith, in New Delhi New Delhi (dĕl`ē), city (1991 pop. 294,149), capital of India and of Delhi state, N central India, on the right bank of the Yamuna River. for a foreign ministers' meeting, said that Australian authorities were "determined to address the concerns about the safety and wellbeing of Indian students." "Australia has a zero tolerance The policy of applying laws or penalties to even minor infringements of a code in order to reinforce its overall importance and enhance deterrence. Since the 1980s the phrase zero tolerance has signified a philosophy toward illegal conduct that favors strict imposition of approach towards violence and racial prejudice," he said in a joint statement issued after talks with his counterpart S.M. Krishna. Australia has played down any racial aspect to the attacks, saying jobs that Indian students do to support their education mean they are often in dangerous areas or on public transport late at night. Deputy Prime Minister A Deputy Prime Minister or Vice Prime Minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the real Prime Minister is temporarily absent. Julia Gillard Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961) is the current deputy leader of the federal Australian Labor Party (ALP), and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament. and Victoria state premier John Brumby John Mansfield Brumby (born 21 April 1953), Australian Labor Party politician, is the 45th Premier of Victoria, assuming office in July 2007 after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also serves as the Minister for Veteran's Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. have also visited India in recent months seeking to shore up Australia's image among Indians looking to study abroad. 
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