Dumb and dumber: language cuts risk Australia's regional relationships We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Opinion By Melissa Crouch Normal text size Advertisement La Trobe, Swinburne, Murdoch and Western Sydney University. These are some of the Australian universities considering axing various Indo-Pacific language programs from Indonesian to Hindi. It’s feared other universities may follow suit. Abolishing language programs is a dumb move. Australian universities are a key ingredient in the government’s commitment to engagement with the Indo-Pacific. The opportunity to study Indo-Pacific languages at Australian universities is diminishing. Credit:Sean Davey