International education is one of Australia’s largest export industries, but polls have shown that voters are concerned about large influxes of foreign students and workers putting excess pressure on the housing market.
Australia boosted its annual migration numbers in 2022 to help businesses recruit staff to fill shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic brought strict border controls, and kept foreign students and workers out for nearly two years.
Migration – driven by students from India, China and the Philippines – has expanded labour supply and restrained wage pressures, but exacerbated an already tight housing market.
Labor had hoped to bring temporary migration numbers back to pre-pandemic levels by limiting the number of international students starting to study in Australia next year.
Both Labor and the Coalition, Australia’s opposition, have said that they want to lower net overseas migration.
The new directive replaces an earlier direction that forced immigration officials to prioritise applications from foreign students with offers from institutions considered low-risk, which has been criticised by regional universities, ABC News said.
According to ABC News, about 60,000 fewer higher education visas were granted in the 2023 to 2024 financial year compared to the preceding financial year.
Source: CNA
