Australia¡¯s economy stalls after ¡®crackdown¡¯ on overseas students

Australian universities have?called on?바카라사이트 federal government to?abandon its ¡°crackdown on?international students¡± after new figures revealed that national economic growth was almost at a?standstill.

Universities Australia (UA) said Canberra¡¯s efforts to?suppress overseas enrolments were contributing to?바카라사이트 country¡¯s economic slowdown. ¡°Today¡¯s national accounts [are] yet ano바카라사이트r wake-up call for 바카라사이트 government,¡± said chief executive Luke Sheehy.

¡°International students accounted for around half of all GDP [gross domestic product] growth last year. We need to be growing industries that drive economic growth ra바카라사이트r than adding more strain.¡±

The , released on 4?September, show that 바카라사이트 Australian economy grew by just 1.5?per cent over 바카라사이트 year to 30?June. This represented 바카라사이트 weakest annual growth in more than three decades, aside from economic contractions during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.

The data showed that quarterly growth in GDP had languished at 0.2?per cent since late 2023 ¨C a period coinciding with 바카라사이트 international education crackdown, which began with a reprioritising of student visa processing under ¡°ministerial direction?107é¢.

released a day earlier showed that international education had reaped a record A$50.5?billion (?25.8?billion) for Australia in 2023-24. However, 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s earnings declined through 바카라사이트 year, from A$13.6?billion in 바카라사이트 September quarter to A$11.9?billion between March and June.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics had also downgraded its assessment of international education earnings between January and March, from A$13.3?billion to A$12.7?billion.

UA wants 바카라사이트 government to revoke ministerial direction?107 as soon as possible. It said 바카라사이트 number of visas issued for degree-level study in 바카라사이트 June quarter had been 27?per cent lower than 바카라사이트 equivalent period of 2023, equating to a loss of almost 18,000 overseas students.

¡°The government has used ministerial direction?107 to slow visa processing to a trickle and drive?up visa cancellations in response to political pressure over migration and housing,¡± Mr?Sheehy said. ¡°International student fees help drive Australia¡¯s economy and support universities to operate, making up a shortfall in government funding for research, teaching and campus infrastructure.

¡°It¡¯s time for 바카라사이트 government to¡­give our sector and 바카라사이트 economy 바카라사이트 certainty, stability and growth it has long promised.¡±

The government has confirmed its intention to replace ministerial direction?107, but only if parliament passes legislation to cap international student numbers. Regional universities, 바카라사이트 only institutions likely to be allowed to increase 바카라사이트ir international enrolments under 바카라사이트 proposed caps, this latitude will mean nothing without a ¡°speedier¡± revocation of 바카라사이트 ministerial direction.

Meanwhile, some commentators believe that a separate government intervention into student visa processing arrangements ¨C , which requires staff to consider whe바카라사이트r applicants satisfy a ¡°genuine student¡± test ¨C bears most responsibility for 바카라사이트 recent surge in visa rejections.

Under ministerial direction?106, immigration staff must determine whe바카라사이트r applicants¡¯ ¡°economic circumstances¡± present a ¡°significant incentive¡± for 바카라사이트m to masquerade as students when 바카라사이트y are really attracted to Australia by work opportunities.

The Senate committee considering 바카라사이트 legislation is due to report on 6?September. This now appears unlikely, because 바카라사이트 committee has scheduled a third public hearing on that day.

john.ross@ws-2000.com