Foreign student deaths suppressed: The Age

By Melbourne Bureau

Melbourne, 1 July: The Australian government has suppressed the reasons behind the deaths of over 50 overseas students. The report in today’s The Age published from Melbourne says the toll could be higher than what the Federal Government has admitted. The report quotes a spokeswoman for Victorian Coroner Jennifer Coate as saying last night that the information would not be made public because it was not exhaustive. “The nationality and occupation of someone who has died is not required to be automatically recorded,” she said.

The report further says, “In February, under questioning in Parliament, the Government said 51 overseas students died in that year, with 34 dying of “unknown” causes. Fourteen cases were cited as accidents and three as death from illness. But an investigation by The Age has established the death toll is higher than 51 — around 54 — with most coming from India, Korea and China. Nearly half were Indian, despite Indians holding one-fifth of the total student visas at that time.”

Under law an education provider is not supposed to detail the cause of death of an overseas student when reporting it to the education department. A spokeswoman for Education Minister Julia Gillard said the law would be reviewed this year and next, reports The Age.

The report comes amidst controversy over recent attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney.

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