"Senate inquiries are in place, there's also a national security taskforce, and this is one of the issues they'll be looking at. But it is a complex issue because the way in which data is recorded is subject to important privacy issues, very important non-discrimination issues and I think we work through that in a measured way," he added.

He said universities already do a lot to ensure the safety of international students.

"We do a lot of course, as large organisations, and that includes information provided prior to departure, which just about all universities are involved in, then information on arrival, then of course updates and ongoing information, including things like mentoring with local students," he said.

"So there's a range of those initiatives, many well in place but also for instance as an organisation, Universities Australia is about to release a best practice guidelines so that we are sharing what all the universities do amongst themselves and for other education providers," he added.