Australia's New Visa Rules: What You Need to Know | Australia Immigration Updates
A former high-ranking immigration department official has issued a stark warning that the next federal election in Australia, if centered on immigration issues, could lead to "Trump-style name calling and civil unrest." This caution comes as both major political parties—Labor and the Coalition—have pledged to reduce long-term net migration ahead of the election.
Labor's strategy includes capping the number of international students each university can enroll starting in January 2025. This measure is part of a broader plan by the Albanese government to manage the influx of international students, which has reached record levels, thereby easing pressure on the housing market.
The education minister, Jason Clare, announced that universities wishing to exceed the cap would need to build new student accommodations, aiming to reduce rental market strain. Clare emphasized the importance of international students to Australia's economy and communities, insisting that the sector must be future-proofed.
On the other hand, opposition leader Peter Dutton has proposed a more drastic reduction in permanent migration levels. His plan includes cutting the annual intake from 185,000 to 140,000 for the first two years, followed by slight increases over the next two years.
This reduction is framed as a response to the housing crisis, with Dutton suggesting additional measures like a tiered increase in student visa application fees and penalties for students who switch providers, aimed at enhancing the integrity of the student visa program.
The former official criticized both approaches as examples of "short-termism." He described Labor’s cap on international students as "unsustainable" within a market economy, arguing that it disrupts the financial models of universities and could negatively impact the quality of education.
However, he deemed the Coalition's plan as even more chaotic, predicting that it would result in yearly struggles among educational providers to meet an arbitrary cap, leading to a backlog and further instability.
Instead of these measures, the former official proposed a more sustainable solution: introducing a minimum university entrance exam score for international students, similar to those required of domestic students.
This approach would ensure that educational institutions prioritize academic excellence over tuition fee revenue. It would also maintain a high standard of education and support long-term growth without arbitrary restrictions.
The former official highlighted the significant contributions of international students to Australia's economy. They not only support a substantial portion of Australian research but also subsidize the tuition fees of domestic students, thereby reducing the financial burden on taxpayers.
The record number of international students, which recently exceeded 700,000, has been a driving force behind temporary entrant numbers reaching 2.8 million.
Despite these economic benefits, there is considerable political pressure to reduce migration numbers to address housing affordability issues. The Treasury secretary has noted that the surge in student visas is likely a temporary peak, suggesting that current pressures might subside naturally.
The official urged for a rational and long-term approach to migration policy, warning that an election dominated by immigration rhetoric could lead to social unrest.
He called for both major parties to engage in calm and rational discussions to avoid the pitfalls of divisive politics and to ensure that migration policies serve Australia's long-term interests in economic prosperity, skill development, and social cohesion.
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