With Labor’s proposed cap on international enrolments stalled in the Senate, Coalition leader Peter Dutton remains committed to pushing for even stricter limits on international students.
Details of exactly what the Coalition is planning for Australia’s international education sector remain to be seen, but speaking at the ITECA conference on April 2, Luke Sheehy, CEO of Universities Australia, told colleagues: “We’ve heard talk of a 30% cap on overseas enrolments”.
“This is just speculation, but we need to understand how it would work in practice. Would it be a flat cap? Would it apply to undergraduates only? Would it be at the institution or course level? These are questions we need answers to,” said Sheehy.
“What we do know is that it would result in a significant reduction in overseas enrolments.”
On 2023 levels, Australia’s universities would need to shed almost 55,000 international students, Sheehy highlighted.
“We know that these talented people, on average, contribute $73,000 each to our economy every year – 55,000 fewer students studying here amounts to a $4billion economic hit. Imagine torching $4bn in revenue at a time our economy and our sector can least afford it.
“It could soon happen. That is the reality of a 30% institutional cap on international students,” he told the Adelaide audience.
“Is this all worth a few votes at the ballot box? Is this all worth the hit to our economy? Is this all worth inflicting further financial pain on universities?”
Is this all worth a few votes at the ballot box? Is this all worth the hit to our economy?Luke Sheehy, Universities Australia
“I wish these weren’t rhetorical questions. Sadly, this is the price of short-term politics.”
In anticipation, Sheehy has written to the leader of the Opposition, Sutton, requesting to meet.
The Coalition has publicly promised – if elected – to reduce the country’s permanent migration intake by 25% and looks to shrink the number of international students studying at metropolitan universities.
Meanwhile, Labor is currently relying on Ministerial Direction 111 to slow down the processing of student visas.
Despite a year of policy chaos, Sheehy acknowledged current education minister Jason Clare “for what he’s achieved in the portfolio”, particularly in reforming early childhood education, schools and TAFE.
“The next step must be continuing to reform our higher education system. And I want to urge the next federal government to make this a priority.”
Sheehy said that Labor has made “good steps” in implementing some of the recommendations laid out in the Australian Universities Accord, but warned that the next and all future governments “must stay the course”.
“The international student chaos of the last 12 months has amplified the need for this. Both major parties are biting the hand that helps fund our sector,” said Sheehy.
