International students will now be required to achieve higher scores on English proficiency tests, while increased scrutiny will be applied to second visa applications.
International students will now be required to achieve higher scores on English proficiency tests, while increased scrutiny will be applied to second visa applications.
The Australian government has announced plans to cut migrant intake by 50 percent over the next two years. Under new regulations, international students will also be required to achieve higher scores on English proficiency tests, while increased scrutiny will be applied to second visa applications, Reuters reported.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the government’s objective is to bring migration numbers back to what is deemed a “sustainable” level. “Our strategy will not only address current challenges but also shape the future of migration in Australia,” O’Neil stated during a media briefing.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed this sentiment over the weekend, asserting that the existing migration system is “broken” and in need of significant reform.
The reforms are already showing early signs of success, putting downward pressure on net overseas migration, with an expected further decline in migrant numbers. The decision comes in response to a peak in net immigration, reaching a record 510,000 in 2022-23.
Official projections indicate a decrease to about a quarter of a million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, returning to pre-COVID levels.
The surge in net overseas migration in 2022-23 was primarily attributed to the influx of international students.
Last year, Australia temporarily increased its annual migration numbers to address labor shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the sudden influx of foreign workers and students has exacerbated pressure on the rental market, leading to a rise in homelessness.
Citing a survey conducted for the Sydney Morning Herald, it was revealed that 62 percent of Australian voters believe the country’s migration intake is too high.
Responding to these concerns, the Labor government aims to streamline the entry of highly skilled workers and expedite their path to permanent residency.
As part of the new strategy, a specialist visa for highly skilled workers will be introduced, with a one-week processing time. The move is expected to help businesses attract top talent amidst fierce competition with other developed economies.
Catriona Jackson, chief executive of Universities Australia, expressed support for the government’s focus on streamlining the system and adding flexibility to meet Australia’s skills and economic needs.
“Australia is a great multicultural nation, and we need a migration system that acknowledges the past and future benefits of that,” Jackson said in a statement.
“We support the government’s focus on streamlining the system and adding flexibility to ensure it is fit for purpose and can meet Australia’s skills and economic needs in the coming decades.
Jackson also noted the strategy’s acknowledgment of the vital role of international education in contributing tens of billions of dollars annually, supporting jobs, and funding essential services. She applauded the measures to preserve the integrity of the education system, protect students from exploitation, and simplify graduate visas, and praised the government’s acceptance of the recommendation for a genuine student test. The move ensurs individuals coming to study have genuine ambitions.
The creation of new visa streams to attract researchers to Australian universities and retain more international graduates in the country was also noted by Jackson.
The chief executive cited the economic and social contributions of skilled individuals, underlining the importance of attracting them for mutual benefit.
However, Jackson urged careful consideration of any changes that might restrict the movement of genuine students, noting the need to weigh benefits against potential limitations.
“Universities Australia has engaged deeply with the government on the development of the migration strategy and will continue to do so through its implementation as we all work toward a better migration system that underpins a flourishing multicultural nation,” she said.
From January to September, the total count of international students enrolled in Australia totaled to 746,080, as per government data.
