Why does Australia want to place hats on international students?

Australia was the highest option when Ali Bajwa, born in Pakistan, wanted to follow a doctorate in agricultural science. The research in this field was developed, and universities were high and students abroad were welcome in the country, as international education was referred to as “” “The largest export We do not get out of the ground. “

Mr. Bajoa arrived a decade ago, specializing in herbal control. He brought his family, and all became homogeneous citizens. He spent years in Wagga Wagga, a rural city, working for the state government and continuous research in harmful herbal sciences. He is now studying at the University of La Trop in Melbourne and he is the owner of a house.

But those who hope to follow the road of Mr. Bajwa are facing a new truth.

Politicians have turned on both sides of the corridor to the formation of the number of international students as a means of curbing unbearable housing, a crisis at the top of the voters’ minds before the elections next month. The argument is that this will reduce the demand for rents, beginners and prices. It is a major shift for Australia, whose economy depends on mining but once saw education as “Super growth sectorIt sought to compete for students in the United States, Britain and Canada.

“We gain much more than we lose in front of international students,” said Mr. Bajwa, 35.

Last year, the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albaniz sought an end to international students, but failed to issue legislation. Since then, student visa fees and slow treatment have been increased, which reduces students from abroad. The opposition leader, Peter Datton, pledged to place more striking restrictions on international students, and reduce the number by another 30,000, with a maximum of 240,000 new arrivals per year – and more than three times the visa fees to up to $ 5,000 Australian, about 3,200 dollars.

Strict border controls were suspended during the Koronverus virus in the Kurnverus of many international students. But Australia has made concerted efforts to restore them – temporarily remove work restrictions and provide discounts on visa fees. This led to a record increase for students who arrive in the country in 2023 and 2024, when the total registration of international students reached one million for the first time last year.

In September, Mr. Daton Talk about Students who are applying to stay in the country after their certificates as “the modern version of the boat arrivals”, in a clear reference to the refugees and asylum seekers.

Australia has Take advantage of a long time From immigration, which has strengthened the workforce and the younger mine. on 30 percent Its residents were born abroad, and Almost half He has at least one father born outside.

But views have turned, not just here. US Scrutiny and revocation Student visas in a radical manner, where the right to study in the country as a privilege can apparently rob him; Canada has Put the brakes On the flow of students from abroad; Britain has Installing new restrictions He said he would prevent people from using student visas from working in the country.

Australia has long allowed the major universities to rely on international students to expand their universities and their research programs. Foreigners pay much higher fees than local students and contribute a large part of school revenues.

“International students in Australia have been used for some time as a form of export industry,” said Peter Hurley, Professor of Education Policy at the University of Victoria. “In the same way they promote sheep industry, it was the same with international education.”

The increase coincided with the increase in international students with the crisis of the ability to afford acute housing costs in Australia. The values ​​of the house increased compared to income, About 45 percent of 2020 rises. Sydney was The second lesser city is applicable In the world after Hong Kong in 2023, based on a comparison between the prices of medium houses with average income.

While multiple factors contributed to the crisis to housing supplies – including lack of employment and high construction costs Regulatory issues International students have provided a suitable and uncontrolled segment to target them as a rapid reform of politicians.

This feeling was reflected in a question posed to Mr. Albaniz, from the Labor Party in the center, and Mr. Datton, who leads the liberal party, in its first discussion on this electoral cycle.

“We have a lot of students visiting here to buy housing inside the city area,” He said A 74 -year -old woman named Janine, who said she is concerned about her children’s ability and grandchildren to be able to afford the costs of a house. “When will one of our governments appear and say, Australia belongs to the Australians?”

And Andrew Norton, professor of higher education policy at Monash Business College, said that the number of students who arrive in the country – many of whom want to stay in the country after graduation – contributes to the aspect of demand for lack of housing.

He said that at the same time, the current height is a deviation due to the pent -up demand during the epidemic and the return of fewer students to the homeland. He added that the proposed hats will be a short -term solution instead of reforming the most thinking and comprehensive immigration policy.

Critics have also indicated that international students are largely occupied by apartments and share homes that are concentrated near universities that are not usually the types of homes that home buyers are looking for for the first time.

Kelford Soreria, a fourth year student at the University of Sydney, studies law and trade from Surabaya, Indonesia, said he learned the English language from the Australian teachers who lived in his hometown. When it is time to think at the university, he said he felt a general convergence of Australia and also felt that there were trade and diplomatic relations with Indonesia that would lend job opportunities.

Many of his fellow international students, who compensate Almost half He said that the Student Authority at the University of Sydney represents four fifths of the school’s tuition fees, contributing to Australian society much more than they take.

He said: “Most of them want to work in Australia or return to their country of origin with the knowledge they obtained from Australia.” “In my view, that will only be for Australia.”