A new international student cap is a welcome reduction but 270,000 per annum is still too high, according to Sustainable Population Australia (SPA), particularly in light of the government’s expressed intention of keeping net overseas migration (NOM) to 260,000 p.a.
SPA national president Peter Strachan says excessive numbers of overseas students have contributed to unacceptably high levels of NOM which now makes up four-fifths of Australia'€™s population growth.
"€œRecord levels of population growth (2.5% p.a.) have had a detrimental effect on Australia, not just from a housing perspective, but environmentally as well,"€ says Mr Strachan.
"€œThe Australian government has allowed net migration of one million in 2022-24 and will go very close to 1.5 million, for the whole 2022-25 electoral cycle."
"€œLabor has perverted the purpose of education, not just by making universities and colleges dependent on the fees paid by international students, but by making it too easy for overseas graduates to gain residency."
"€œThe desire of so many overseas students to study in Australia is less about gaining an education and more about the prospect of gaining permanent residence and working rights,"€ says Mr Strachan.
"We have to separate immigration from education," says Mr Strachan. "€œAll students should be required to go home after obtaining their degree or certification and apply through normal channels for residency on an equal basis with everyone else."
"€œCurrently, large cohorts of unqualified or unprepared students from overseas are reducing the quality and pedigree of degrees for local students. Raising entry standards for overseas students will lower numbers and restore quality learning to our universities and colleges."
"€œLower student numbers will also ease pressure on the rental market. While universities do provide some student accommodation, it is not enough, and many students live in crowded group houses across the suburbs."
"€œIn determining overseas student numbers, the federal government has to do so in the context of net overseas migration and Australia’s population size, remembering we are not living sustainably with the 27.4 million we have."
