The Senate Standing Committees on Education and Employment have recommended the government go ahead with new legislation to cap international student numbers.
Reactions to the ESOS Amendment Bill 2024 have been overwhelmingly negative from the international education sector, with institutions claiming thousands of jobs could be lost, and industry experts suggesting the methodology around cap allocations to be problematic.
The Senate committee heard testimony from independent experts and sector representatives earlier this month who have expressed their concerns with the bill. Despite this, the Senate are happy for it to go forward with some recommendations, which include:
- Scrapping course-level caps for universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions, so limits are only imposed at the institutional level.
- The education minister to consult with ESOS agencies, the immigration minister and providers before any limits are set.
- Exemptions for specific classes of students, such as by citizenship, from enrolment limits in instruments and notices.
The government are now expected to push the cap through as early as January 2025 and any revisions between now and then are unlikely.
In a statement to the committee, Felix Pirie of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA) said the bill was ‘damaging’:
‘While perhaps well intentioned, the bill includes provisions that are, to be frank, a job-killer. They risk further damaging Australia’s capacity and reputation, also straining Australia’s strategic and international relationships. It’s crucial that the government engages meaningfully with all sector participants before implementing any such reforms.’
