A top industry body says that Australia’s debate over capping foreign student numbers is still ongoing despite a controversial bill that unexpectedly lost support.
The proposed legislation, aimed at reducing overall migration to Australia, has faced significant opposition from numerous universities. Critics argue that the bill could harm the higher education sector and tarnish its international standing.
The government contended that the legislation was essential for enhancing sustainability within the industry and alleviating housing pressures, anticipating smooth passage with the backing of opposition members this week.
In a surprising last-minute decision, Australia’s opposition leader announced that his coalition would oppose the bill, citing that it failed to meet their expectations for reform.
While certain universities have voiced their approval regarding the bill’s apparent failure, they also highlight that this development perpetuates the uncertainty enveloping an industry valued at approximately A$50 billion (£25.7 billion, $32.7 billion) within the economy.
The head of Universities Australia, Luke Sheehy, told the BBC that the news gave him “no sense of relief.”
“I anticipated that international students would be exploited as pawns in a fabricated battle over migration leading up to the election,” stated Mr Sheehy, representing an organisation that supports 39 universities.
The proposed cap aims to restrict new enrolments to 270,000 for the year 2025, marking a substantial reduction compared to the figures for 2024. The implementation was scheduled to take place in a mere six weeks.
Some universities have made job cuts and rejected student applications in anticipation of the new laws. The BBC was told international students were already choosing to study elsewhere due to the reduced confidence in the sector.
The legislation is presently under consideration in the Senate. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labour government has not officially retracted it, its passage is contingent upon the backing of the primary opposition Liberal-National coalition or the Greens, who have expressed their opposition.
Peter Dutton, the Leader of the Opposition, criticised the bill as “a dog’s breakfast” and pledged to implement “deeper cuts” should he emerge victorious in the forthcoming election, expected by May.
The Greens criticised the bill, labelling it as “dog whistling that shamefully scapegoated international students for the housing crisis they did not cause.”
The government has levelled accusations of hypocrisy against Mr Dutton, contending that he has frequently adopted a “tough” stance on immigration, which has surged to unprecedented levels in recent years.
The anticipated defeat of the bill suggests that the current visa policy, criticised for directing the majority of international students to a limited number of urban universities, will continue to be enforced.
The Group of Eight (Go8), representing Australia’s leading universities, expressed concerns that the proposed bill would negatively impact students and staff, concluding that reason had triumphed.
The industry finds itself in a state of urgency once more as the countdown to the 2025 academic year continues with just a few months remaining. Experts indicate that certain universities may experience an unexpected increase in student enrolment, contrary to prior expectations of a decline. Meanwhile, institutions, particularly those in regional areas, will likely see a reduction in student numbers, intensifying their financial challenges.
Mr. Sheehy expressed his concern: “The most devastating part of this discussion is that we still don’t have a resolution.”
“The promise of certainty, stability, and growth made by the government months ago, when they introduced caps, remains unfulfilled.”
