8-5-2024 (SYDNEY) Grappling with the challenges posed by record migration levels, the Australian government has unveiled a series of stringent measures aimed at curbing the influx of international students. On Wednesday (May 8), officials announced a significant increase in the minimum savings requirement for student visa applicants and issued stern warnings to educational institutions over fraudulent recruitment practices.
Effective Friday, international students seeking to study in Australia will be required to demonstrate proof of savings amounting to at least A$29,710 (S$26,447), marking the second hike in less than seven months. This latest increase follows a previous raise from A$21,041 to A$24,505 in October of the previous year.
The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Australian authorities to rein in the unprecedented surge in migration that has gripped the nation since the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in 2022. The sudden influx of migrants has exacerbated the already strained rental market, prompting the government to implement a raft of measures aimed at tightening student visa regulations.
In March, the English language requirements for student visas were rendered more stringent, while steps have been taken to curtail provisions that previously allowed students to prolong their stay in the country.
Unveiling the latest measures, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil revealed that warning letters have been issued to 34 educational providers suspected of engaging in “non-genuine or exploitative recruitment practices.” O’Neil cautioned that those found guilty could face severe consequences, including potential jail terms of up to two years and being barred from recruiting international students.
“Dodgy providers have no place in our international education sector. These actions will help weed out the bottom feeders in the sector that seek to exploit people and trash the reputation of the sector,” O’Neil declared in a statement, underscoring the government’s resolve to uphold the integrity of Australia’s esteemed international education industry.
The international education sector represents one of Australia’s largest export industries, contributing a staggering A$36.4 billion to the nation’s economy in the 2022/23 fiscal year. However, the record levels of migration, driven primarily by the influx of international students, have placed immense strain on the government, with rental prices skyrocketing across the country. Net immigration surged by a remarkable 60 percent to an all-time high of 548,800 in the year leading up to September 30, 2023.
Faced with this unprecedented challenge, the government expects its policies to potentially halve Australia’s migrant intake over the next two years. “We are significantly reducing migration levels — we are in the middle of the biggest drop in migration numbers in Australia’s history, outside of war or pandemic,” O’Neil asserted, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the government’s determination to address it.
