Banjo Patterson,
It's about 10,000km from Melbourne to South Africa, China and Chile, the distance is basically the same to Africa, Asia and South America and since Australia is a continent all on it's own there's no reason beyond greed to engage with Asians or to give them special attention.
You mentioned that in France most students study other European languages, the distance from Paris to Delhi is about 7,000 km, Melbourne to Delhi is 10,000 km, by your logic the French should be more engaged with Indians than Australians are.
This whole debate is really about whether the tastes and attitudes of upper middle class dilettantes and adventurers should be imposed upon the lower classes, at our own expense mind you.
We don't aspire to your social mores or accept your world view because all we see when we go outside are Asians dealing drugs to our kids, defrauding,robbing and raping our neighbours, undercutting us in business and driving down the standard of living in our suburbs.

OTB,
Language studies courses are also elitist because they have the annual trips abroad and exchange programs which only the wealthy families can afford, if parents want their kids to study a second language they should have to pay for private lessons, such courses are nothing but a frustrating waste of time for most state school kids.

Sweeping statements and generalisations have
no place in discussions. They must be backed
by facts and evidence.

The following link is from the Department of Education
in Western Australia which states:

"Languages education is an integral part of a balanced
school curriculum. It plays an important role in
preparing students for effective participation as global
citizens of the 21st Century."

"School communities work collaboratively to increase levels
of participation, engagement and achievement in languages
programs from primary school through to year 12."

"The main languages taught in Western Australian public
schools are Aboriginal languages, Chinese, French, German,
Indonesian, Italian, and Japanese."

"The benefits of learning languages include the ability to
communicate within and across cultures, an understanding of
and respect for diversity and difference, an extension of
literacy skills and the development of cognitive and
critical thinking skills. Competence in a second language can
also enhance employment and career prospects."

http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/k10syllabus/detcms/navigation/languages/

Foxy, the above is not evidence. It is opinion, highly likely written by somebody who makes a living from teaching languages and so has a vested interest. Why don't you go out and ask those most affected, namely students. You might get a shock.

Foxy,
Yes and when you go to another country and strike up a conversation with your year nine level language skills they're going to laugh in your face or scream at you; "Buy something or go away!".
Hand gestures, pointing at a picture and mime are the least embarrassing ways of ordering a bowl of Pho or getting a Taxi to Ginza.

Dear Yabby,

The link I gave was from the Australian Curriculum
Assessment and Reporting Authority.
You can access their website on Australian
Curriculum: Languages via the ACARA website. It's
listed at the end.

And as far as students go - I am quite familiar
with what they think. I deal with various levels
on students on a daily basis.

Here's another link for you that may be of interest:

http://studenttravelplanningguide.com/printguide/global-trends-in-foreign-language-demand-and-proficiency/