Statement from the Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson
The Coalition’s plan for Australia’s high performing international education sector is the wrong policy at the wrong time.
“In the current global environment now is not the time to turn our backs on our regional partners and put at risk our $51 billion international education sector. The easy politics of scapegoating international students must come to an end.
“Australia already has the highest student visa fees in the world. The Coalition’s plan to hike it even further in this targeted way only reinforces the negative and damaging messages Australia has sent to the international education market in recent years.
“It makes no sense on any level. We are facing skills shortages in areas critical to our economic competitiveness.
“It beggars belief that the Coalition would single out the Go8 for extra burden – Australia’s top universities all ranked in the world’s top 100 – that attract the best and brightest minds from our region and around the world.
“Blaming international students for the housing crisis is flawed policy. It’s been called out by the Business Council of Australia, the Property Council of Australia and others. Targeting international education will have damaging consequences across the economy. We can and we must do better.”
“The Go8 has been very clear that we agree it is time to review our international student market and have a detailed and evidence-based review of the best policy settings to ensure Australia is set up for a changing future. We are up for that discussion and the Coalition has indicated it will consult should they win Government. That is what proper policy development looks like.”