Immigration deptt must have 'sufficient data' of intl students: Oppn

MELBOURNE: Amid reports that 54 overseas students, including Indians, died of various causes in Australia last year, the federal opposition has said the department of immigration must have "sufficient data" of foreigners to protect them during their stay in the country.

"The problem for us is not to know. If we know what type of deaths are occurring, where and when; is it virtually within weeks or months of the student's arrival, it would enable us to deal better with these deaths," federal opposition's immigration spokeswoman, Sharman Stone said.

She added that the system was haphazard and lacked transparency.

Noting that the department of immigration must have "sufficient data" on the overseas students, she said, "If we don't have that data, we can't give our international students the very best experience of Australia and protect them from harm while they're here."

The opposition said the immigration department should improve its information gathering.

Victorian statistics reportedly take into account only those "coronial" deaths where an individual's case file specifically indicates a nationality and their occupation as student. These statistics were not exhaustive and are not reliable.

Meanwhile according to a spokesperson for the Victorian Coroner, police should take note whether a death is that of student.