Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will move for a Senate Inquiry into the treatment of international students in Australia when Parliament resumes next week, as the South Australian Indian community prepares to meet over a new incident in Adelaide.

An Indian student was attacked in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall yesterday afternoon, following reports from Melbourne and Sydney of a series of attacks on Indian students in those cities.

“Yesterday’s attack in Adelaide is, sadly, the most recent indication of wider problems in the international education sector,” said Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Education.

“We know that the Federal Government has been aware of concerns relating to international students for some years, and that India is not the only country to have made representations to Australia about the welfare of their students here.

“With international education as our third biggest export behind coal and iron ore, Australia really must do better by our international students.”

Senator Hanson-Young yesterday met with the Federation of Indian Students in Melbourne.

“The Federation of Indian Students raised with me broader issues such as information provision, access to representation and support services, and the need for public awareness campaigns,” she said.

“These issues are systemic, and necessitate the accessible, transparent process of a Senate Inquiry to properly scrutinise them and determine better ways forward.”

The Federation of Indian Students, the National Union of Students and Universities Australia have all voiced similar concerns and are in support of a Senate Inquiry into the sector.

“I will be moving for the Greens’ Senate Inquiry into Australia’s international education sector when Parliament sits again next week,” concluded Senator Hanson-Young.