Sydney, Aug 6 India's External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, the first senior minister to visit Australia since the recent spurt in attacks on Indian students, said here on Thursday that he was satisfied with the steps taken by authorities here to ensure the safety of the students.

Indians are "by and large most welcome in Australia", Krishna observed, according to ABC Online.

Krishna met New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees about violence and difficulties faced by Indian students. Later he said he was happy with what he has heard from the premier.

"Indians by and large are most welcome in Australia," ABC Online quoted him as saying.

Krishna says he does not believe that Australia is a racist nation, adding that he was satisfied with the reassurance he received and will return to India with the premier's message.

"Indian students are going to be safe in Australia," he said.

At least 19 Indian students have been brutally attacked in Melbourne and Sydney, with the first attack in the recent spurt taking place May 9.

Besides the attacks, an education and migration scam has been exposed and a college, where many students are Indian, has shut down, putting a question mark on their future.

Krishna is expected to meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith on Friday.