Eva Lawler angry over Canberra plan to slash student visas

Chief Minister Eva Lawler has lashed Canberra politicians threatening to cut Australia’s student visas rollout.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler has joined a chorus of Territory critics condemning federal Labor and the Coalition for kicking around international students like their political football.

Ms Lawler was responding to budget week plans outlined by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Opposition leader Peter Dutton that forecast extensive cuts to student visas.

Ms Lawler said both Labor and the Coalition were governing for Canberra and the east coast while ignoring the interests of the Territory and northern Australia.

“Both the Federal Labor and Coalition need to stop seeing international student numbers from a Canberra centric perspective,” Ms Lawler said.

“East coast policies should not be the same for the Northern Territory or northern Australia.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We don’t have the congestion problems seen in Melbourne and Sydney, so why should we suffer the same policy decisions.

“International students are welcome here and add to the Territory’s economy. There are currently more than 5600 international students studying in the Northern Territory contributing around $169m each year to the Territory economy. We are aiming to grow that to 10,000 international students by 2030.

“Cuts and caps being talked about by Federal Labor and the Liberals may be in sync with the East Coast but the NT should be carved out.”

The federal government announced in this month’s budget it would move to cap the number of students that could be enrolled by each university or college and to amend the Education Services for Overseas Students Act to give the education minister the power to set limits on enrolments.

The legislation would allow for providers to go over those caps if they were able to prove they had invested in new student accommodation. If they pass the federal parliament, the new laws would take effect from January 2025.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton flagged cutting the so-called permanent migration cap from 185,000 to 140,000 for two years including a cut in international student numbers.

Federal Member for Solomon Luke Gosling OAM MP, who represents residents in Darwin and Palmerston, echoed Ms Lawler’s sentiments.

“I remain a strong advocate for carving out sensible exemptions to student visa numbers in regional Australia – including in Darwin and Palmerston - in recognition of our need for skilled workers and sustainable population growth,” Mr Gosling said.

“Student cap numbers should reflect the capacity of each tertiary education to properly accommodate the additional influx of overseas students.

“I am in lockstep with the Lawler Labor Government on this matter and discussions with my colleagues in Canberra, Minister for Education Jason Clare, and Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil, are ongoing.”