Universities Australia calls for end to ‘phony war’ on international students

The peak body representing universities has called on the federal government to end what it described as ‘a phony war’ costing the NT about $40,000 a day.

The peak body representing universities has called on the federal government to end what it described as “a phony war” on international students.

The head of Universities Australia Luke Sheehy was in the Territory this week, and said institutions like Charles Darwin University would struggle to cope unless limits on international students were scrapped.

“Limiting international students is not going to do anything other than damage our economy,” Mr Sheehy said.

“And you’re going to have places like Charles Darwin University left with a big bill on that beautiful new building to pay for.

“In regional communities and smaller cities like Darwin and others in the Territory, their economies are turbocharged and benefit from having a university because you’re getting the skilled workers, you’re getting the research that you need to build a community, and new ideas for a new economy – we can’t do that without international student revenue.”

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman AO with Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy in front of CDU’s new Darwin City campus. Credit: CDU.

Canberra has had its sights on limiting international students as an attempt to manage housing shortages and soaring migration into Australia.

The coalition this week withdrew support for Labor’s proposed cap on international student numbers, labelling it “a dog’s breakfast”.

Despite blocking Labor’s Bill, the LNP supports caps in principle and has pledged “deeper cuts” if it wins the 2025 election.

Labor meanwhile will continue to limit international student numbers using its controversial de facto cap implemented in December: Ministerial Direction 107.

The direction prioritises visa applications of students with offers from institutions considered lower risk – in effect favouring Group of Eight universities and often slowing the process for smaller, regional institutions.

Mr Sheehy estimated visa processing delays were costing the NT economy about $40,000 a day.

“The more the delay, the more it impacts CDU and also impacts the recovery Darwin and the broader Territory want to see – more people living and studying here,” he said.

“This is a migration debate in an election year wrapped up as something to do with international education.

“Students only make up around 6 per cent of the private rental market – the issue around housing is obviously more a supply issue than it is actually international students.

“We need more population in parts of the country, particularly in Darwin and the Territory, and international students are an amazing way to feed high skilled workers into the Australian economy.

“When I say ‘phony war’ I mean it because it is a sector that serves Australia’s interests more than it undermines Australia.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she would continue to lobby the Commonwealth to allow more international students into the NT. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the NT government would continue to lobby the Commonwealth to allow more student intake in the Territory.

“We have been championing the cause to lift the migration caps of both international students and workers for the Territory,” she said.

“We can ultimately take a lot more migrants to secure our future.

“We’ve been pushing that very hard with the federal government. We’re encouraged by the increase in international student numbers they delivered for us following the initial cap, but there’s a lot more work to be done.”

International education contributes $200m to the Northern Territory economy every year.

Originally published as Universities Australia calls for end to ‘phony war’ on international students