Australia vows zero tolerance for racial attacks

Launching an all-out effort to salvage its image battered by the spate of attacks on Indian youths, Australia expressed its zero tolerance for racial violence on Wednesday with its universities promising "a safe environment" for students of all backgrounds.

"We want to send a message ... loud and clear that Australian government, the Victorian (state) government have no tolerance for any actions based on racial intolerance," Deputy prime minister and Education minister Julia Gillard said.

Her comments came as at least nine Indian students were assaulted in a space of a month, with the latest case coming to light on Tuesday when a 21-year-old was slashed with a box-cutter by a group of men on a college campus in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria where many of the attacks have occurred.

Condemning the attacks, the Australian universities said that "injury to even one student is totally unacceptable" and stated their commitment to ensuring that staff and students of all backgrounds continue to enjoy a safe environment.

"All universities do seek to create a safe on-campus environment for everyone through measures including 24-hour security, escorting and shuttle buses, CCTV cameras, well-lit precincts and incident reporting. Off campus there is extensive liaison with Australian authorities," Universities Australia chief executive, Glenn Withers, said in a statement.