The government has ordered a "go slow" on some visa applications as it tries to suppress international student numbers. It claims the changes will make it fairer for regional universities, but prestigious city institutions argue it undermines Australia’s reputation as an education destination.
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00:00With a dream of becoming a doctor, Ray Adrian moved from Sri Lanka to study medicine.
00:08But he's worried about others looking to make the same move.
00:12If you're a prospective international student wanting to study here in Australia,
00:16I think it's natural to feel a sense of confusion.
00:19Overnight, the government has changed the way international student visas will be processed.
00:24Under the new direction, there will be two categories, high priority and standard.
00:29When universities reach 80% of their government-set quota,
00:32which is different for each institution, the pace of visa approvals will slow.
00:37It'll prioritise visas for students going to those regional and smaller universities.
00:44Over the last year, regional universities saw a 33% reduction in international student commencements.
00:49But the top universities say the change runs the risk of confusing the international student market
00:55and makes Australia look too hard and too unwelcoming as a higher education destination.
01:02While Ray Adrian thinks today's change is a step forward,
01:05he agrees the long-running immigration debate has raised uncomfortable questions.
01:11Are we wanted here? Are we not wanted here?
01:13Net overseas migration is expected to reach 340,000 people this financial year,
01:19well above the previous forecast of 260,000,
01:23but still below the peak of 446,000 net arrivals last financial year.
01:29The universities are in crisis, frankly trying to deal with this policy chaos.
01:34The government had wanted to legislate international student caps,
01:38but the coalition effectively blocked it.
01:40Instead, this is Labor's Band-Aid solution amid sustained pressure from a fiery opposition
01:46blaming the housing crisis on high immigration.