SA Premier Steven Marshall pushes for a visa to let international students stay in SA longer post study

The international students business is worth $1.5 billion to South Australia’s economy each year — and Premier Steven Marshall is spearheading a new plan to ensure those students stay in SA after completing their studies. Here’s how it’ll work.

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International students that choose to study in Adelaide would be able to live in South Australia for longer post study under a plan by smaller states being spearheaded by Premier Steven Marshall.

A joint submission to the Federal Government from the South Australian, Northern Territory and Tasmanian governments has made a pitch for better incentives for international students.

The push, designed to help boost population growth in states desperate for more people, will be considered by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“A simple way to increase migration from international students is for post — study work rights for international students who study and commit to live in a regional area to be available for longer periods,” the submission said.

“For example this may increase from two to four years for undergraduate degree students or from 18 months to three years for VET students.”

Growing the international student sector is a key plank of Mr Marshall’s population plan.

Last month Mr Marshall told The Advertiser increasing the ability for international students to stay longer “is very attractive to students and could give us the solution we need.”

“They would find it more attractive to come to South Australia.”

A Deloitte Access Economics report released in November showed that the average international student contributes $36,600 to South Australia’s economy, with international students injecting $1.54 billion into the economy in 2017.

In November last year modelling showed South Australia’s population could reach 1.85 million people in 2042 before spiralling into decline.

THE PROPOSAL

The SA, NT and Tasmania Migration Priorities submission includes six priority areas the states want the Federal Government to look at to improve migration growth including:

RETAINING regional status for the whole of Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania

REINVIGORATING the State Specific and Regional Migration Scheme

INCENTIVISING the Business Innovation Investment (BIIP) Program for low population

growth jurisdictions

ENCOURAGING dispersal of international students to regional areas

SUPPORTING regional employers

MARKETING regional migration.