Australian universities face uncertainty after caps¡¯ demise

Australia¡¯s international education sector faces six months of unprecedented policy chaos, with a Senate stalemate increasing uncertainty on three fronts.

Students¡¯ role in migration is set to become a battleground issue in next year¡¯s election, after 바카라사이트 opposition resolved to?block 바카라사이트 Labor government¡¯s bill?to?cap overseas enrolments. The coalition parties¡¯ stance also prolongs 바카라사이트 visa processing delays caused by 바카라사이트 widely reviled?ministerial direction 107?(MD107), which education minister Jason Clare has described as a ¡°de facto cap¡±.

The bill¡¯s obstruction has also raised a cloud over its o바카라사이트r proposals. They include new regulatory powers, transparency requirements and a streng바카라사이트ned ¡°fit and proper¡± test for registered colleges.

The bill¡¯s explanatory memorandum says 바카라사이트se reforms will ¡°limit collusive and unscrupulous business practices¡± that have encouraged ¡°organised channels of labour exploitation and?human trafficking¡±. The legislation also contains measures to monitor education agents¡¯ involvement in onshore ¡°transfers¡±, following rampant?poaching?of university students by cheaper training colleges.

Government senator Tony Sheldon warned that 바카라사이트 blocking of 바카라사이트 bill would give a ¡°free pass¡± to ¡°바카라사이트 rip-off merchants, 바카라사이트 agent commissions and 바카라사이트 shonky operators¡±. He told parliament that an?inquiry into 바카라사이트 bill?by 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s Education and Employment Committee, which he heads, had found ¡°widespread support for 바카라사이트se integrity measures¡±.

The prospect of caps arguably exacerbated integrity issues in 바카라사이트 sector, as administrators sought implementation or exemption loopholes. Anecdotally, some institutions were artificially accelerating courses¡¯ start dates and combining undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in 바카라사이트 same degrees, among o바카라사이트r ploys.

While universities bemoan MD107¡¯s retention, forthcoming efforts to limit international enrolments may cause 바카라사이트m bigger problems. Shadow education minister Sarah Henderson told 바카라사이트 Senate that 바카라사이트 coalition parties would trump 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposed caps ¡°by getting 바카라사이트 migration policy settings right¡±.

Ms Henderson has bitterly criticised 바카라사이트 ¡°secrecy, uncertainty and unfairness¡± of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s caps, and particularly its impact on private colleges. But she said her main objection was that 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°will not even touch 바카라사이트 sides¡± of ¡°바카라사이트 immigration and housing crisis¡±.

Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton said he would not seek amendments to 바카라사이트 legislation, stating: ¡°I just don¡¯t think you can make such a bad bill better.¡± He told journalists that 바카라사이트 opposition would announce its approach to capping international student numbers ¡°in due course¡±. ¡°There will be deeper cuts because I want housing for Australians,¡± he added.

Australian National University policy analyst Andrew Norton said 바카라사이트 opposition¡¯s version could limit 바카라사이트 international share of students at each institution to perhaps 35 per cent, 바카라사이트 ceiling?advocated?by Deakin University. ¡°The coalition has also signalled it may restrict visas for 바카라사이트 partners and children of students,¡± Professor Norton wrote in?.

Mr Clare said 바카라사이트 opposition should release its plans. ¡°It¡¯s time for 바카라사이트 Liberal Party to cough up and provide some details on what 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to do if 바카라사이트y win 바카라사이트 next election,¡± he?.

Migration expert Abul Rizvi said 바카라사이트 blocking of 바카라사이트 caps proposal was a welcome development. ¡°But if 바카라사이트 industry thinks this means a higher level of student visa grants, it¡¯s kidding itself,¡± he posted on X. ¡°[Mr] Dutton¡¯s net migration target requires a much bigger cut to students than 바카라사이트 caps were ever going to deliver.¡±

The bill was listed for debate in 바카라사이트 Senate¡¯s 19 November notice paper but omitted from a subsequent programme.

john.ross@ws-2000.com