The Australian government has announced a new visa processing framework aimed at regulating international student numbers in response to mounting immigration concerns ahead of the upcoming federal election. Education Minister Jason Clare introduced the plan on Thursday, which prioritizes visa applications for education providers deemed to be “operating sustainably.”
The strategy introduces a two-tier visa processing system: high-priority and standard. Education providers will receive expedited visa approvals for international students until they reach 80% of their designated student quotas, in alignment with proposed legislation aimed at capping arrivals. Beyond this threshold, visa applications will be processed at a slower rate, effectively managing the influx of students.
This initiative follows the Labour government’s unsuccessful attempt to legislate caps on international student allocations, a measure rejected by parliament. The centre-right opposition, while advocating limits on student numbers, opposed the proposal.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher highlighted the broader implications of the policy, emphasizing its potential to steer applications toward regional and smaller universities, promoting equitable growth across the education sector.
The Labour government faces increasing pressure to manage migration levels ahead of the election, which must occur by May 17. Australia’s net overseas migration has surged in the post-pandemic period, with estimates for this fiscal year revised upwards from 260,000 to 340,000. This has fueled voter concerns about immigration’s impact on housing affordability and availability.
Despite these trends, recent data from June 2024 reveals a 25% decline in international student visa arrivals over the past year, dropping from 278,000 to 207,000. The opposition has criticized the government’s handling of migration, linking the issue to a worsening housing crisis that has driven up property prices and rental costs nationwide.
Department of Home Affairs Launches Skills in Demand Visa
In a related development, the Department of Home Affairs has introduced the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa, replacing the previous Temporary Skills Shortage Visa. This
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