Indian student enrolment in Australia has declined by almost half following turmoil in its international education sector, legislative changes and global financial crisis. In 2008-09, 65,503 Indian passport holders were granted Australian student visas across all education sectors. But in 2009-10, the number fell to just 29,721. Overall, 50,540 fewer international students were granted visas to study in Australia in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09. According to 'the Age' on Thursday, global student visa numbers dropped over 16 per cent last financial year. It was also said that the new figures were result was also due to student security issues putting pressure on student numbers. Stephen Connelly, president of International Education Association of Australia, said the drop was not surprising but very worrying. "There is so much goodwill we generate from having international students in our country, and we are absolutely shooting ourselves in the foot at the moment," he said, adding the government and opposition had sent negative messages to potential students during the federal election campaign and work had to begin on improving Australia's reputation. If the problems were not tackled quickly, Connelly said, there would be a further significant drop in student numbers. "Applications being received by agents would indicate that the numbers will go down even further. There's a lot more pain in store, I would say," he added. However, he played down the significance of student security issues, which flared up in Victoria last year following a series of allegedly racist attacks on Indian students. "[Student security] would be lower down on the list of reasons than the difficulties of getting a visa and the lack of differentiation among providers," Connelly said. National Union of Students president Carla Drakeford said the drop in numbers was very concerning. "International student decline is dangerous for the university sector - not only because it creates a hole in university funding, but also because of the innate value international students bring to our community and higher education sector," Drakeford said.