This is a very good article, despite most of the commentary here.

Andrew Bartlett's quite correct. The indignant denialism as to the possibility of a racist motivation for the senseless murder of Mr Garg is exactly what Prof Jakubowicz was drawing attention to on the part of the Victoria Police and Julia Gillard.

To pretend that racism is unlikely to be a major factor in the spate of recent serious assaults on Indians, as most commenters here do, is to reinforce Jakubowicz's point. I note that Australia's High Commissioner to India is a tad more realistic than the Victoria Police and the Acting PM:

<< Australia's High Commissioner to India, Peter Varghese, says race might have played a role in some of the violent attacks against Indian students that have threatened ties between the two countries.

The admission came after India advised thousands of its citizens studying in Australia to take precautions against assault following the murder of a young Indian national in Melbourne last weekend.

Mr Varghese told reporters in New Delhi that Australia has never denied there being a racial element to any of the attacks.

He labelled the majority of assaults involving Indian nationals "opportunistic urban crime."

But he added there have been some cases where the motivation appeared to be racial, particularly where the attackers engaged in racial abuse. >>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/07/2786997.htm

It doesn't matter whether the assailants are Anglo-Australians or members of other ethnic groups, if Indians are being targeted because of their ethnicity, then racism is very likely to be a causal factor. It's also irrelevant that racism exists in India - racism is racism wherever it raises its ugly head.

CJMorgan and what if it isn't what if this murder like the one in NSW is found to be done by an Indian? What if it's found to be done by a Pakistani, or a Tamil upset by a racist slur that the victim dish out to them. Where we that leave your and other self hating black arm banders then. Could it be that it would be better to actually find out weather there is racism involved before you join others if racing to condemn Modern Australian culture.

And yes the state of affairs in India is a matter of interest to the rest of us. If they are going to condemn us then it's worth while holding the mirror up. Or are you one of these self loathing Westerns who have this nation that only white people can be racist.

That right Western culture bad other cultures good. This leftie find that unacceptable.

I hope that Graham tolerates this as it is a bit off topic. I have just spent an hour reading the Making Multicultural Australia web site. It’s left me utterly disgusted. I could find a signal positive comment about western culture. Now any long term readers of this site will know I have defended multicultural Australia the concept, as an atheist I have stood beside Muslims under attack. But it is know getting silly, where is the balance. There is nothing on the web site that show western cultural and Australian culture in a positive light, maybe I missed, can someone point to an article on the site? Any children of Anglo-Saxons reading this web site would come away thinking that all of their parents and grandparents are racist criminals.

I note two things, Atheist are the 2nd largest religious group in Australia but they are barley mentioned, Why are they not included in this vision for Multicultural Australia. Also it is clear that no none from the government has actually read the website. If this is the new face of labour Multiculturalism then that’s the 2nd good reason I have for voting Liberal at the next election. Very angry.

C J Morgan

"To pretend that racism is unlikely to be a major factor in the spate of recent serious assaults on Indians, as most commenters here do, is to reinforce Jakubowicz's point. I note that Australia's High Commissioner to India is a tad more realistic than the Victoria Police and the Acting PM"

Exactly! why pretend, call a spade a spade. Why pretend that muslims are not racist anymore. Attacks in Sydney dominated by lebanese heritage muslims and in Melbourne by Somalian muslims.

Some others by so called wog gangs.

Everyone tried to pretend it was not happening in Sydney toward white and Indigenous Australians and it led to a riot. Does not work.

If you say at the time this was an inter-religous ro race moitvated crime peope feel done and dusted. pretend it never happens and wa breaks out. Aussies not different to Inidans. Aussie were seen to be hysterical when they were being raped, bashed, intimidated and now same for Indian students. No more PC. Spade a spade.

The reality is that secularism hates the fact that once Christian based nations provided by far the best living environments for people. Kids had dads and mums and all who wanted to integrate were accepted. Failed secular dogma has left us loathing every good thing about our forefathers and created a mythical peaceful existence from our first people. CJ is among these loathers but he certainly is not alone. You can blame our modern day revisionist to whom so many now suck up to. Somehow every culture that isn't based on the Christian Judea ethic has been given victim labels. Those who sweated, worked hard, paid taxes and believed in a fair go have been demonized. The same thing has happened in America and UK. Most are just to dumb to see it.

Most of this crime is from refugee populations. Although they maybe lovely people if they do not have skills to do well their children become victims of socio-economic conditions and are more likley to join territorial gangs that leads to race based violence. Same happens with any race if they cannot join the workforce in an effective manner. Muslims though do have an added prejudice.

Still we have to say this not an excuse and admit that these problems stem from poor immigration policies. It may sound nice let everyone in but it is cruel if we allow people in that will struggle. It is so much better to devote resources to settling them in environments where they can thrive and have happy lives.

Too many people want them in to makes themselves happy, feel hero and massage thier own ego whatever, rather than in the best interest of the refugee.