Concern over caps to overseas students

Migration expert Abul Rizvi has warned the nation’s international student intake could be cut to less than 100,000 a year under Labor’s plan to limit overseas enrolments.

Migration expert Abul Rizvi says the total international student intake could be as low as 100,000 based on Labor’s projections to reach a net migration figure of about a quarter of a million people. Picture: Jane Dempster

Migration expert Abul Rizvi has warned the nation’s international student intake could be cut to fewer than 100,000 a year under Labor’s plan to limit overseas enrolments to pare back net ­migration, amid warnings the caps will cripple the sector.

Mr Rizvi said the Albanese government scheme that will place caps on the number of foreign students that universities and vocational providers are ­allowed to enrol overall or per course was a “really poor” way to manage the $48bn industry.

The former deputy secretary of the Department of Immigration urged Labor and the ­Coalition to find a way to manage international student numbers without resorting to arbitrary limits. Peter Dutton ­revealed in his budget reply speech on Thursday that he was also in favour of caps on foreign students in a bid to increase the housing supply.

Education Minister Jason Clare introduced legislation to implement the caps and foster “sustainable growth” in the sector this week, though no figures have been released indicating what the limits will be for providers.

Mr Rizvi said the total figure could be as low as 100,000 based on Labor’s projections to reach a net migration figure of about a quarter of a million people. He warned that announcing a goal to start the caps from January 1 would encourage students and providers to race to submit applications before the end of the year.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson cautioned against using international students as a political scapegoat for the housing crisis, urging a “sensible, informed discussion across the political divide”.

“The suggestion that our international students are ­responsible for the economic challenges that our community faces, such as housing, and that cutting student numbers is the solution, ignores how important this export sector is to our economy,” she said.

Universities Australia chief executive officer Luke Sheehy said international students contributed substantially to government coffers and “both major parties should be working with us to support this vital industry, not using it as a political plaything”.