Raising the Bar on Student Migrants Could Backfire, Property Council Warns

Some estimates say the overall strategy will halve Australia’s net migration within 2 years.
Raising the Bar on Student Migrants Could Backfire, Property Council Warns
A woman walks past a sign offering assistance to international students who want to get into any of the various Australian universities in Melbourne, on Oct. 30, 2023. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times
Rex Widerstrom
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The federal government’s Migration Strategy, which aims to lure skilled migrants to Australia while cracking down on “non-genuine international students” and migrant worker exploitation, could easily damage the economy, the Property Council of Australia has warned.

Foreign students are affected in several ways by the strategy: A new “Genuine Student Test” will apply; the savings threshold for visa applicants has been raised, with $24,505 (US$16,113) now required, an increase of 17 percent; there will be tougher English-language requirements; some post-study work rights have been reduced; and education providers considered “high risk” can expect slower visa processing or more extreme consequences.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.
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