What you said about Peter Dutton’s plan to cap foreign students

Peter Dutton has unveiled the Coalition’s latest election promise, but readers are split on their grand plan for international students. WHAT YOU SAID

Peter Dutton has unveiled his latest election promise. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has revealed foreign student intakes at universities, VET and the higher education sector would be cut by 80,000 in an election promise to free up housing and rentals.

In what is a key part of his soon-to-be-released immigration policy, the move will result in the number of new international students being reduced from a high of 320,000 in 2023 to around 240,000.

The Coalition will apply a percentage cap - approximately 25 per cent - from next year to the share of new foreign student intakes.

Student visa application charges will also rise to $5,000 for Group of Eight universities and $2,500 for remaining international students.

Mr Dutton and the Coalition believed the measure will overwhelmingly affect metropolitan - especially Group of Eight universities – where pressure on housing and infrastructure is most acute.

Opposition Peter Dutton has announced a key part of his soon-to-be-released immigration policy. Picture: Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

They said there will be “at most” 115,000 overseas student commencements each year at publicly funded universities with 125,000 in the VET, private university and non-university higher education sectors.

“I don’t want young Australians locked out of the property market – or having to rely on the bank of mum and dad. I want to see more Australians in homes,” Mr Dutton said.

“Under Labor, migration has, and will continue to put pressure on housing, infrastructure and services. A Coalition government will restore the dream of home ownership by cutting migration and starting a house building boom.”

News of this plan sparked a war of words among readers; with many pointing out Mr Dutton voted against a similar Labor policy last year.

Others said it was exactly what the country needs.

Some, though, felt that it would do more harm than good.

See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

Dutton does a 180 on international students

Col

Didn’t Dutton vote against Labor’s plan to reduce foreign student numbers last year? But today he releases his new and improved plan to reduce student numbers. What a joke, I have heard of “Fox on the Run” but now Dutton has rejigged it to “Policy on the Run”!

Morag

So Dutton has now announced a policy he voted against last year!? He’s making this stuff up on the run, clearly not ready to run the country!

Phil

Massive? Labor was already cutting number. So Peter Dutton opposed Labor’s move to cut overseas student numbers last year. Now he thinks it’s a good idea? Another weak flop from Peter Dutton.

Darren

So another backflip on Labor’s plan to cap foreign students?

About time

Gary

Exactly what the country needs, a reduction in student numbers to take pressure off housing and a clear path forward. Students should return to their homeland at the completion and then apply to enter the country like all other migrants.

Denise

Lets face it Albanese is all glib talk and no action. On the other hand Peter Dutton will deliver what he says. Peter Dutton did stop those boats coming into our country, he was very strong and we had a great Border Patrol too. Peter Dutton has also been talking about capping immigration 140,000 and stopping foreigners from buying our houses. This will allow our Australians getting into the housing market and achieving their dream of owning a home.

Chareeya

This man continues to hit the ball out of the park. Doing what we all want and know is correct for the country.

Daryl

Makes 100% sense. Wake up Labor voters.

Paul

Dutton offers considered and practical solutions to our challenges. Meanwhile Albo throws taxpayers money around like confetti as Band-Aid solution to complex issues.

Bush Tucker

Apart from foreign students, who wouldn’t support this? This is also about young Aussies being able to get a job because clearly education and back door immigration have become part of the University sell.

Still not good enough

Bo

More tinkering around the edges by the Coalition. Have some courage and make real cuts!

Anita

Cut migrant numbers severely, Peter. Not just students. Even impose a levy and put all of them on high tax rates on arrival.

Greg

It’d free up a bit of uni accommodation but so much of that is high rise multi Tennant and not suitable for non students it’s not going to make much of a difference, except to the bottom line for the uni which will mean kids will have to pay more for their degrees unlike his (our) generation who got free uni.

Megan

Dutton has every opportunity to win the election by solely focusing on the cost of living. Cutting the Foreign student intakes by 80,000 is going to hurt the economy and is definitely not going to improve the cost of living for those families struggling to put food on the table or pay their bills.

Denise

So Dutton’s plan to improve the economic conditions for Australia is to reduce foreign investment through overseas students. But the LNP are the great economic managers.

More harm than good

Anthony

Education is a major export and has had a rough road since covid. Further there is a lot of student housing available. Slowing immigration, training more tradies and continuing to build more homes is a much better solution than damaging our education sector.

Greg

Well, there goes another industry under the Liberals.

Boss

The victimisation of foreigners is a sure fired vote winner. Just ask Donald Trump. If Mr Dutton is serious about home ownership he would get rid of negative gearing which in its basic form is social welfare for the better off.

Amy

And do we have a plan on how to fund those staff who are currently working in higher ed, who are made redundant because there are less students = less money = redundancies.

George

This is not the problem that needed solving. International students pay a fortune for placements which helps Uni’s survive, they also add to the economy by working jobs that most aussies don't want and then spending it at restaurants in the evenings.

Originally published as What you said about Peter Dutton’s plan to cap foreign students