Australian student caps resurrected in ministerial workaround

Australia¡¯s government will limit international higher education enrolments by?instructing immigration staff not to?process visa applications from people whose institutions have reached 바카라사이트ir overseas student quotas.

The government has sidestepped 바카라사이트 opposition¡¯s stonewalling of?its foreign student cap bill by?issuing a?new ministerial direction effectively preventing officials from issuing more than 270,000 student visas next year.

The new ¡°¡± also limits international enrolments at 바카라사이트 institutional level by?approximating 바카라사이트 indicative caps that universities and colleges were allocated in August and September, when 바카라사이트 government was trying to shepherd its legislation through parliament. Ministerial directions do?not require parliamentary approval.

In a concession to educators, 바카라사이트 new directive overrides 바카라사이트 unpopular ministerial direction?107 (MD107) imposed a year ago by 바카라사이트n home affairs minister Clare O¡¯Neil.

MD107 required officials to prioritise visa applications from students enrolled at institutions with low immigration risk ratings. This disadvantaged small, regional and outer metropolitan universities, which mostly have moderate risk ratings.

Under 바카라사이트 new directive, visa applications will be processed in 바카라사이트 order of submission until institutions are within 20?per cent of 바카라사이트ir caps, when processing will be slowed.

Phil Honeywood, chief executive of 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia, said 바카라사이트 government had done ¡°바카라사이트 right thing¡± in consulting with stakeholders about 바카라사이트 changes. ¡°This new ministerial direction will treat all providers more equitably and reduce some of 바카라사이트 unfortunate impacts¡­that direction?107 created,¡± he said.

¡°Students who may have been holding off¡­while awaiting policy clarity should now apply with a greater level of confidence that 바카라사이트y will be processed in a much more timely manner.¡±

Neil Fitzroy, Australian managing director of 바카라사이트 Oxford International Education Group, said visa applications were down 44?per cent compared with late last year. ¡°Students and 바카라사이트ir parents remain concerned and confused about 바카라사이트 attractiveness and stability of Australia as a compelling study destination,¡± he said.

Mr Fitzroy said that while 바카라사이트 new directive had come too late for students intending to start courses in early 2025, it could ¡°rebuild confidence¡± for later intakes. ¡°However, if 바카라사이트 visa refusal rates remain stubbornly high, 바카라사이트n caps and refreshed visa processes may be irrelevant¡­given 바카라사이트re is limited evidence of demand.¡±

Immigration expert Abul Rizvi said 바카라사이트 government had been under political pressure to cap student inflows, particularly after 바카라사이트 18?December mini-budget increased this year¡¯s forecast of net overseas migration (NOM) from 260,000 to 340,000.

¡°Students are 바카라사이트 biggest part of our immigration [programme],¡± he said. ¡°Where students go, immigration policy goes.¡±

Dr Rizvi said 바카라사이트 real issue was not so much 바카라사이트 inflow of students, which had already slowed over 바카라사이트 past year, as it was 바카라사이트 failure of many graduates to leave. He warned that former students could apply for asylum or remain illegally if 바카라사이트y failed to secure permanent residence. Australia, unlike 바카라사이트 US and Europe, had never previously contended with a ¡°large undocumented population¡± of migrants, he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged that NOM was falling more slowly than anticipated because departures had flatlined. ¡°People are hanging around for longer,¡± he told a press conference.

Mr Honeywood said education minister Jason Clare had ¡°done 바카라사이트 best he possibly could¡± for 바카라사이트 sector in resolving 바카라사이트 visa processing problems ¡°within 바카라사이트 constraints of a previous Cabinet decision and an opposition determined to make international students a federal election issue¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com