The Federal Government must show it understands and takes seriously the growing concerns about Australia's international education sector by establishing a dedicated parliamentary secretary, according to the Australian Greens.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says the threat by the Indian Foreign Minister to warn students off coming to Australia is a wake-up call to the Rudd Government that it cannot ignore the sector's problems any longer.

This week has seen tensions between Australia and India escalate, following yet another attack on an international student. Indian authorities have issued a travel warning about increased violence in Melbourne. The Australian Government is in damage control.

While police investigations into the fatal attack of accounting graduate Nitin Garg in Melbourne and the discovery of the body of an unidentified Indian student in NSW are ongoing, the motives behind these attacks remain unclear.

This week has seen tensions between Australia and India escalate, following yet another attack on an international student. Indian authorities have issued a travel warning about increased violence in Melbourne. The Australian Government is in damage control.

While police investigations into the fatal attack of accounting graduate Nitin Garg in Melbourne and the discovery of the body of an unidentified Indian student in NSW are ongoing, the motives behind these attacks remain unclear.

The Government should use money from international student fees to fund support programs and public awareness campaigns about the positive contribution international students make to Australia, in light of increased violence against the community, according to the Australian Greens.

Racism should not be ruled out as a potential cause of the attacks on two Indian students and requires immediate government attention as the impact is already being felt across the international education sector.

The Australian Greens welcome the Senate report into International Education and hope that the Federal Government moves quickly on recommendations rather than letting the issue slide, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

"This is a unanimous report which means that there is no excuse for not taking quick action - we hope that the recommendations will be fed directly into the Baird Review,'' Senator Hanson-Young, the Greens spokesperson on Education, said.

The Federal Opposition has betrayed students across Australia by blocking Youth Allowance legislation that would have removed the worst elements of the original flawed legislation and helped students to access income support for their tertiary careers.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says the Government's amended legislation, though imperfect, would have allowed scholarships for students and removed the retrospective nature of the original bill that the Coalition had objected to in the first place.

The Australian Greens are working hard to improve the Government's flawed Youth Allowance legislation to help people who most need access to financial support for their tertiary careers, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says that any major legislative reform has historically been backed up with proper funding and student income support should never have been treated any differently.

The Federal Government must decide whether to see sense or stick to its narrow-minded approach to student support for tertiary education after the passage of amendments to Youth Allowance legislation in the Senate, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, the Greens spokesperson on Education, says the Government failed to act despite widespread concerns about the impact of its proposed legislation.

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (9:26 PM) - I rise to speak to the Rudd government's attempt to restructure the way in which student income support is offered to those undertaking tertiary study in the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Income Support for Students) Bill 2009.