What does the news item say about the number of Indian students in Australia? [o

For nearly a decade, the popularity of Australian universities rose rapidly among Indian students, and the number of those heading to the country for higher education rose from about 10,000 in 2001 to more than 70,000 last year.
    But that could change this year due to a string of negative publicity generated by attacks on Indian students in Australia.
    A travel advisory by the Indian government earlier this week warned that Indian students in Australia face an increased risk of assault. It was issued after an Indian graduate was stabbed to death in Melbourne. His stabbing came on the heels of a spate of attacks on Indian students in Australia in recent months, which the Indian media have dubbed as racist.
    It is a charge that Australian officials have strongly denied. They say the attacks are purely criminal, and the country is safe for foreign students.
    Nevertheless, as concerns rose in India, foreign minister S.M. Krishna called on Indians to assess their options while exploring the possibility of studying in Australia.