Student cap estimated to boost JCU and CQU numbers at expense of small providers

A bill aiming to redistribute thousands of international students to NQ is facing defeat, with its opponents claiming small education providers would have suffered under the new caps.

Warren Entsch opposes changes to international student caps, citing the impact the proposal could have on smaller North Queensland education proivders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A bill aiming to redistribute thousands of international students to North Queensland is facing defeat in parliament, with its opponents claiming small education providers would have suffered under the new caps.

The Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill was debated in parliament this week – seeking to cap new international enrolments at 270,000 in 2025, and redistribute those students from major cities to regional parts, at the minister’s discretion.

In 2024, indicative data showed 446,084 international students commencements in Australia, with 68,717 of those in Queensland.

With the bill likely facing defeat in the senate as the LNP and Greens look likely to block the changes, federal Education Minister Jason Clare published his estimations on how the redistribution would benefit regional Australia including North Queensland.

James Cook University Smithfield campus. The university would receive a greater allocation of international students under the government’s proposed new cap. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Mr Clare’s numbers showed James Cook University’s 2024 international intake of 923 would grow to 2200 in 2025 and Central Queensland University would go from 2424 to 3000 international commencements next year.

“This bill gives the Government the power to set numbers at each university – it doesn’t put those numbers in law,” Mr Clare said.

Cairns based Labor senator Nita Green said the Opposition’s rejection of the international student distribution would impact efforts to address skills shortages in regional areas.

“And that’s why they don’t support regional communities, because if you support the regions you support taking action on the skills crisis,” Ms Green said.

Minister for Education, Jason Clare MP and Senator Nita Green say regional universities would benefit under their proposed international student caps. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the estimated boost in international commencements for the major universities was overshadowed by projected losses for smaller providers.

In October Mr Entsch wrote to Mr Clare and the Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles alerting them of the impacts to Cairns College of English and Business and YWAM Medical Ships – both of which the veteran MP stated had invested significantly in local infrastructure and would be threatened by closure with a reduction of students.

He said CCEB had capacity to accommodate 400 students but under the proposed changes, would be capped to 89 commencements, while Townsville-based YWAM Medical Ships would be reduced to 25 students.

International students Radka Sustkova of the Czech Republic, Mohammed Al Yousef of Saudi Arabia, Michael Di Venti of Italy and Kotori Sugahara from Japan commenced their studies in at the Cairns College of English and Business last year. Picture: Brendan Radke

“This major policy shift may be manageable for larger education providers in metropolitan areas, but in regional areas … the consequences will be much more severe,” he said, while requesting the two organisations be made exempt from the caps.

“They’re playing politics with this policy, these are providers, and even JCU, who have their own accomodation so to argue cutting (overall numbers into Australia) will help the housing crisis is just politcs.”

In rejecting Mr Entsch’s exemption request, Mr Giles said the student allocations were indicative only and his department would “continue to monitor impacts as limits come into effect in 2025,” if the bill is passed.

Originally published as Student cap estimated to boost JCU and CQU numbers at expense of small providers