North Sydney Council pushed to the financial edge by pool redevelopment
Adam Harvey looks at what went wrong.
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SBS Australia
5 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
'It's a long game': International student cap increase welcomed, despite housing caveat
The addition of 25,000 student enrolments for next year has been welcomed by the university sector, despite questions about how to unlock the placements. On Monday, Education Minister Jason Clare announced a National Planning Level of 295,000 international student places for 2026 to manage growth in a "sustainable" way. The government will issue a new direction for the changes, replacing Ministerial Direction 111, which acted as a de facto cap and enabled it to reduce numbers by slowing visa processing and assigning quotas for international students to each university. Clare announced two caveats for universities to gain additional placements: student housing and a focus on Southeast Asian neighbours. Education Minister Jason Clare has increased international university numbers by 9 per cent for 2026. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), welcomed the 9 per cent increase but highlighted that the levels were still lower than during the pandemic. "Any increase in the enrolment figures from the government is very welcome ... however, it's patchy," he told SBS News. "Our English language colleges are collapsing as we speak because of the combination of high student visa fees and just a concern that the future for Australian international education is not fantastic." Regional Universities Australia CEO Alec Webb reacted to the news with "positivity", praising the fact that "no university will go backwards in 2026". "It definitely signals that Australia is still open for business, and Australia should still be a destination that is being considered for prospective international students," Webb told SBS News. New housing critical to extra placements Universities will have to demonstrate stronger engagement with Southeast Asia and progress in providing secure student accommodation for both local and international students in order to apply for an increase in their allocation. While Honeywood encouraged the pivot to closer neighbours such as Thailand and Indonesia — "great student source markets" — he expressed concern about housing backlogs. "It's taking purpose-built student accommodation companies anything up to three years to get a project approved and commence construction. So it's a long game," he said. It's a concern also expressed by Webb, who hopes universities will get clarity around housing expectations soon, as well as more information about how the 25,000 placements will be split between metro and regional universities. "Obviously, that can't be a new site build, there is an incredible amount of delay and lag associated with not only obtaining the planning permissions, but also with the actual construction itself," he said. "So we're very keen to work with the department and the government to better understand what the expectation is in regards to securing the supply of housing." SBS News has contacted Clare for comment. The focus on housing reflects the intersection between education and migration, a point exacerbated during the federal election campaign. Australia 'the least worst' option The sector has repeatedly raised concerns that the ongoing debate about international student numbers is deterring prospective students from choosing Australia, delivering a blow to the $34 billion a year industry. However, Honeywood says Australia can capitalise on recent disruption to the global market caused by Donald Trump's presidency in the United States. "Australia's been very fortunate that other countries we compete against, particularly Canada, Donald Trump's USA now and the UK are also winding back on international student recruitment," he said. "And therefore when students are thinking which country to go and study at, they're obviously seeing that Australia is in many cases the least worst when it comes to their ability to access education." From tariffs to university education, experts argue that President Donald Trumphas created global uncertainty that Australia can capitalise off. Source: AP / Evan Vucci This week's announcement outlines capacity for 2026 ahead of new legislation, subject to passing, which will establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission. The body will oversee student caps and university allocations, balancing which courses and skills are needed and hopes to provide stability to the sector from 2027.
News.com.au
24 minutes ago
- News.com.au
New trainer Nacim Dilmi eyes debut winner as new Domeland chapter begins at Canterbury Park
Ex-Godolphin assistant Nacim Dilmi will be eager to emulate a feat of his long-time boss James Cummings when he begins his first foray into training at Canterbury Park on Wednesday. 'James' first runner when he and Bart (Cummings) went into partnership was a winner, then when Bart passed away his first runner was a winner then his first runner at Godolphin was a winner,' Dilmi said. 'I spoke to James on Monday and told him I will try to do the same.' Dilmi is the latest Godolphin product to begin the next phase of his racing journey as new head trainer for Domeland on the Central Coast. The French-born horseman was announced as the replacement for Sara Ryan late last month and has moved to Wyong after several years heading up Godolphin's Melbourne operation. Domeland has 35 boxes at Wyong racecourse and a 260-acre Kulnura property that features a 3000m grass track. 'Sara has been here for a few years now and Tuesday was actually my second day,' Dilmi said. 'If the horses go well on Wednesday, I can't really take much credit because Sara has done most of the work with the horses. 'From what I've seen the horses are in good form and everyone in the stable has been helpful.' Dilmi's first runner as a trainer will be last start Tamworth winner Rebel Rhapsody ($21) in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale Benchmark 64 (1550m). How Much Better ($10) is in the Casino Prince @ Vinery Stud Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) while Aix En Provence ($11) contests the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1900m). He won't have to wait long for a maiden Sydney Saturday runner with Irish import Salt Lake City poised to line up in Saturday's Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m) at Royal Randwick. 'It's a great opportunity and for me to be able to start with horses that are ready to go is handy, walking into a business that is already up and going,' Dilmi said. 'It makes it easier but at the same time I have to make it my own and the changes may take a few weeks. 'If we can adapt and make it a great start to the season, it will be make it better.' Dilmi's former employer Godolphin got their next chapter off to a winning start last weekend when classy mare Amusing scored for new trainer Chris Waller in what was their first runner for a public stable.
News.com.au
24 minutes ago
- News.com.au
England captain Ben Stokes on the Ashes availability of seamer Chris Woakes
A specialist will determine the Ashes availability of wounded Englishman Chris Woakes after his brave attempt to secure victory against India. Woakes dislocated his shoulder early in the fifth Test at the Oval but courageously walked to the crease with his arm in a sling on day five. He didn't face a ball but was prepared to counter the Mohammed Siraj-inspired Indian attack left handed. Despite struggling in Australia – averaging 51 with the ball Down Under – Woakes would still be one of England's first-choice quicks for the upcoming Ashes. England captain Ben Stokes said Woakes was yet to see a specialist as he remained intent on seeing out the fifth Test. But that specialist would decide whether the 36-year-old pushed a case for the first Test in November at Perth Stadium. 'You obviously don't get that chance (to see a specialist) with a game going on, so that (availability for the Ashes) won't be known until later,' Stokes said. Woakes did not bat in the first innings but walked to the middle when England needed 17 to win the Test match. He followed the courageous efforts of Graeme Smith, Nathan Lyon, Dean Jones and Rick McCosker who have all batted under extreme duress. Stokes said he had no doubt Woakes would bat if required and claimed it emblematic of the unrelenting series. 'Unbelievable, but it was never going to be a question for him to be out there, he was in a lot of discomfort running between the wickets there,' Stokes said. 'We've had guys go out, Rishabh (Pant) going out and batting with a broken foot, Bash (Bashir) bowling and fielding with a broken finger. 'Then Chris going out there today trying to get the team over the line with a recently dislocated shoulder. 'It just goes back to how much energy and effort has been put into the series by both teams, everyone has left a lot out on the grounds for their country this series. 'I didn't give him a chance to give him a tap on the back and say, 'Go well', but coming off there it was pretty obvious what was said. '(I said) 'Good effort' and unbelievable, he just shrugged his shoulder and said, 'I wouldn't do anything else'.'
