Australian officials project loss of 250,000 jobs dependent on international students

Chief executive of Universities Australia, and former adviser to Labor Education ministers, Luke Sheehy said that expected changes in visa processing could cost universities A$500 million (£261 million) this year alone.

Image source: Study International

Study in Australia: While the Australian government is trying to curb the migration of international students, the authorities have projected massive job loss in the sector dependent on international students.

As per the Nairametrics report, the authorities in Australia have said that the steps taken to curb the migration of foreign students might could jeopardize 250,000 jobs dependent on income from foreign students and 4500 university jobs. It can put the $48 billion international education sector in danger in terms of job losses.

During the Queensland conference, the Chief executive of Universities Australia, and former adviser to Labor Education ministers, Luke Sheehy said that Australia was inviting economic chaos by its “bipartisan reversal” on international education policies.

“Both the government and the opposition are openly targeting international students in their bid to slash migration. Little thought is given to the deeper consequences of policies driven by polling. With budgetary pressures mounting, shouldn’t we be aiming to grow industries that sustain our economy rather than adding more strain? Is now really the time to water down a major export industry?”, Sheehan said.

Housing crisis in Australia

The country is also witnessing a housing crisis which is being said to be worsening due to high migration. However, Malcolm Roberts, the Senator for Queensland with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Authorised by Malcolm Roberts, Brisbane has denied this and said on X platform, "The government is in complete denial that migration has fuelled the housing crisis, keeping Australians out of affordable houses. 518,000 net overseas migrants arrived in Australia in the 2022-23 financial year. In October 2022 the government predicted the net migrants would be 283,000 less than that. That means an additional 110,000 homes were needed to cater for the extra 283,000 arrivals that weren't forecasted. And the government still won't accept responsibility for causing the housing crisis..."

Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Clare O’Neil has also announced that from July 1, 2024, new rules will be introduced to further restrict the possibilities of visa hopping.

Read more:

• Australian govt announces end to 'visa hopping’ in migration system from July 1
• Australian, Canadian universities announce layoffs due to govt policies to limit international students