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SIMON CREAN: Again our sympathies go out to the family of Nitin Garg for this tragedy that has befallen them. We're doing everything we can to expedite the return of his body to India. We have contacted the Indian High Commission in Canberra today, and are talking through the way in which we progress this matter. But we are committed, along with the Victorian Government and the law enforcement authorities in Victoria, to bringing to justice the perpetrators of this act. It is an unfortunate - very unfortunate - circumstance, but the police have continued to reaffirm the fact that there is no evidence that this is a racially based attack. We have no further details on their investigation. It is far better to let that investigation run its course, but we are assured that every effort is being made to bring justice to bear in this case.

QUESTION: There's quite a lot of unrest over in India that's being reported in the media there, are you concerned by the, I guess, potential fall-out that's been caused by this?

SIMON CREAN: One must always be concerned by the potential fall-out, but we have been through this type of issue before. And that's why we've spent a lot of time over the course of the past eight or nine months, from the Prime Minister down, to really talk with our Indian counterparts, reassuring them that this country doesn't condone nor do we believe that these are racially-based attacks. But we do have to deal with the perception, and that's what we continue to deal with. I think it is true that in these emotional circumstances, particularly when the issue runs hot over there, all sorts of statements and innuendoes are made. But I'm certain that wiser heads will prevail, but that's the reason why we're in very close contact with the Indian authorities here.

QUESTION: What can you do to the, I guess, to the Foreign Minister in India but also to Indians living in Melbourne and probably wider Australia to I guess reassure them that it is a safe place to come to?

SIMON CREAN: Well look, crime happens in cities all round the world. It is an unfortunate fact of life. And if you look at the circumstances here in Melbourne where even over the Christmas period there have been a spate of stabbings, this unfortunately is a violent threat and a violent tendency that has emerged. It so happens that one of the victims is Indian. There have been other victims. And Melbourne is not the only city in the world in which this happens, it also happens in Delhi, it happens in Mumbai, and it is the responsibility of all law enforcement authorities to get on top of those issues and enforce laws to make it, effectively, to make it a safer place to live. But I think it is instructive that one of Nitin Garg's friends himself doesn't believe that this was a racially motivated attack.

QUESTION: What about calls for the Indian Government to issue travel warnings about Australia?

SIMON CREAN: Well look it's up to them as to what they do in terms of the travel warnings, but I must say I don't think the issuing of the travel warning, given the amount of publicity that's been given to this case is going to make all that much more difference. All we can do is to continue to talk with our Indian counterparts, reassure them that everything is being done to bring justice to bear in this matter. QUESTION: So do you believe it will affect tourism then?

SIMON CREAN: Tourism has already been affected as a result of the incidents over the last 12 months. The tourism authorities have reported that. Whether that's to do with the economic slowdown, whether it's to do with this - we don't know, but we do have to appreciate that these sorts of things do have an impact. The question for us is how best to deal with them. And my view is it's far best to deal with them on the facts, not just on the perception. But the reality is, we have to deal with the perceptions.

QUESTION: Victoria's Acting Premier has come out today and urged the Indian community to act with restraint when they're sending these messages perhaps back to India about it being unsafe here. Would you concur with that?

SIMON CREAN: I do, but it's also very important for us to send messages of condolence and reassurance that we're doing everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice.

QUESTION: What's the nature of the discussions in Canberra with the Indian High Commission?

SIMON CREAN: Essentially it's the, it's to do with the repatriation of the body. It's to also continue to go through the exercise that we've established, to see what more can be done and to receive updated reports on the progress of the investigations.

QUESTION: (indistinct)....of the body?

SIMON CREAN: We've had no request for that to happen.

QUESTION: So is there any financial assistance at the moment?

SIMON CREAN: Look, I think it's premature to talk about those things. We understand the grief the family's going through. We followed all protocols in notifying the Indian authorities on Sunday morning of the death of Mr Nitin Garg. It's up to the Indian officials to in turn pass that on back in their own country. That is normal, diplomatic, consular process. So, we've done everything we can. What we can't do is bring the poor guy back to life and we do have to understand the grief that the family is going through. If they think they weren't notified early enough, I apologise for that, but all I can do is to say that we followed all appropriate, diplomatic protocol.

QUESTION: A lot of things are being said in the heat of the moment, but do you have a long-term plan, I guess, for cleaning up Australia's perception, to India in particular?

SIMON CREAN: Well, I think we've got not just a long-term plan, I think that we've already initiated a lot of activity. The Prime Minister has visited, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, myself, other ministers. There have been lots of political exchanges. We've brought Indian journalists out to this country to give them a better feel for the way in which we operate. We're going through all sorts of mechanisms to try and get better understanding, talking with the Indian community, talking with the High Commission. Unfortunately, what we can't do is with the - as much as we wish it away, we can't say there will be an end to all homicides in Melbourne, and no city in the world can do that. This is not an issue in - within - totally within government control. It is an appropriate matter that we strengthen law enforcement. We've identified some of the trouble spots where these attacks have occurred. We've...the Victorian Government, has introduced new policing powers in those areas. What we have to do is to try and take all steps we can to ensure these sorts of things don't re-occur.

QUESTION: Is there a timeframe for this young man's body going back to India? Has that been indicated to you at all?

SIMON CREAN: Well, I think that we need to talk with the family and that's what's going on at the moment. We are seeking to do it as expeditiously as possible.

QUESTION: Just on another matter, the Australian woman who was arrested in Copenhagen says that she wasn't allowed to make a phone call to her family and she's made a few complaints about the way she was treated by police there. What role did Australian officials have while she was detained in Copenhagen?

SIMON CREAN: We have offered to her, and made available to her, all appropriate diplomatic and consular support. Again, it's one of these circumstances. People who travel overseas need to understand that they're not in Australia, they are in countries and subject to their laws. But that being said, all possible diplomatic assistance was offered to her when she sought it.

QUESTION: Did she make a complaint to officials about the way she was treated?

SIMON CREAN: No, she, as I'm aware she has not made any complaints to us about the way in which we handled her case.

QUESTION: And what specific assistance will you be providing her as the case goes on?

SIMON CREAN: Normal consular assistance. We can't, obviously, change the laws. If she's broken any of those, or if charges are to be laid she, like any other person, has to be subject to those laws. We expect that of people that come to this country. That they observe our laws. We can't ask anything different of other countries and again it's a timely reminder, I think, that for those that do travel that they do make themselves aware of the appropriate laws and what can and can't be done. Don't just assume that what applies here will apply there. Thank you very much.

Media inquiries

• Mr Crean’s Office: (02) 6277 7420
• Departmental Media Liason: (02) 6261 1555