International Student Visas - Going Down?

I read with interest, this article in the Age (http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/indian-student-visa-applications-fall-by-half-20100106-lubt.html), talking about a reduction in applications for student visa's in Australia; particularily from South Asian countries like India. The article states that the violence against international students in Melbourne as well as the strength of the Australian dollar has resulted in a reduction of interest from students from countries like India and Nepal
This, as it appears, is rubbish. According to this source (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/Australia-refuses-student-visa-to-33-Indians-for-fraud/articleshow/5406731.cms), 21,120 student visa's were applied for from India during July to September 2009, but a large percentage (33.2%) were rejected due to a crack down by the department on dodgy documentation supplied by applicants. The other country with a large amount of rejections was, you guessed it, Nepal (38.5% rejected).
So, lets not be sensationalist about these isolated figures. Look for the long term trend.