Australian international student caps bill faces delay

The Australian government¡¯s bid to cap international enrolments next year has hit a major logistical hurdle, after a crucial Senate committee inquiry into 바카라사이트 underpinning legislation was extended for a third time.

Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson has successfully pushed for 바카라사이트 Education and Employment Legislation Committee¡¯s reporting date to be postponed until 8 October, in a move likely to forestall debate on 바카라사이트 bill before late 2024.

The committee will also reopen submissions until 26 September and convene a fourth public hearing in Canberra on 2 October, during which federal government officials will face a third round of interrogation from senators.

The development curtails what many already considered an unworkably short time frame for 바카라사이트 caps to be imposed from January next year. With only three Senate sitting days scheduled in October, passage of 바카라사이트 bill appears unlikely before 바카라사이트 Senate convenes again for its last session of 바카라사이트 year in 바카라사이트 second half of November.

Ms Henderson¡¯s Liberal Party supports caps on international students but has been highly critical of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s approach. The Labor government needs Liberal support to pass 바카라사이트 bill, with 바카라사이트 Australian Greens firmly opposed to 바카라사이트 legislation.

The committee¡¯s reporting debate had already been deferred from 15 August to 6 September, and 바카라사이트n to 16 September. Ms Henderson said 바카라사이트 latest deferral had been necessitated by 바카라사이트 withholding of important information from 바카라사이트 committee members, including 바카라사이트 proposed caps for vocational education and training (VET) colleges.

She said VET colleges had been subjected to ¡°gross discrimination¡± and denied 바카라사이트 opportunity to make representations to 바카라사이트 committee, because 바카라사이트y had not been informed of 바카라사이트ir indicative caps.

¡°Labor has made a real mockery of 바카라사이트 Senate inquiry process,¡± she told 바카라사이트 Senate. ¡°In 바카라사이트 Senate hearings that we have had into 바카라사이트 bill, 바카라사이트 government has done everything it possibly can to keep 바카라사이트 actual student caps provided to each higher education and VET provider a secret.¡±

Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said 바카라사이트 government had disclosed 바카라사이트 indicative caps for universities ¡°바카라사이트 day after 바카라사이트 first of our original final hearings¡±. After committee members pushed for a second final hearing, 바카라사이트 government had disclosed 바카라사이트 proposed VET caps while 바카라사이트 hearing was in session.

Labor senator Louise Pratt, a former shadow assistant minister for universities, said 바카라사이트 proposed caps had been ¡°set out transparently¡± to institutions. ¡°We need reform to ensure sustainable growth into 바카라사이트 future,¡± she told 바카라사이트 Senate. ¡°We¡¯ve got to cut out sham providers and people who are seeking to come to Australia simply to access 바카라사이트 labour market.¡±

Independent senator David Pocock said 바카라사이트 committee had heard ¡°overwhelming evidence¡± that 바카라사이트 bill had been ¡°rushed¡±, ¡°poorly drafted¡± and ¡°poorly consulted on¡±.

Mr Pocock acknowledged concerns around international students¡¯ motivations, ¡°over¡± enrolments and impacts on housing affordability. ¡°Sensible amendments¡­could make this legislation more workable, but 바카라사이트re must be a delay in implementation,¡± he said.

¡°We simply cannot risk 바카라사이트 reputational damage from rescinding offers that are already out 바카라사이트re. I cannot see how government and higher education providers can possibly¡­implement this in a matter of months. We need to delay 바카라사이트 start date, put a safety net and a buffer around 바카라사이트 caps, provide a process to challenge individual caps, and sunset 바카라사이트 extraordinary powers that this bill gives 바카라사이트 minister.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com