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The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Before the Australian election, both parties wanted to cut international student numbers. So why are they going up?
Last year, amid partisan debate over international student numbers, Universities Australia accused both sides of parliament of using the tertiary sector as a 'political plaything'. Fast forward to 2025, and the federal government has back flipped on its plan to cap foreign student entries, announcing last week that it would increase places by 25,000 next year. The opposition has also said it will adopt a more 'sensitive approach'. So was the election campaign rhetoric just hot air? And will the cap ever be revived? From next year, the international education sector will be allowed to grow by 25,000 additional places compared with 2025 and all providers will receive at least their current allocation of students. After the commonwealth's proposed international student cap – which would have limited new enrolments in 2025 to 270,000 – failed to receive Coalition backing, the National Planning Level for 2026 was set at 295,000 international places. The education department said that was 8% below the post-Covid peak in 2023, and that international student levels for 2025 were 'broadly on track' for the current planning level of 270,000s. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Public universities will be able to lobby for higher individual allocations by demonstrating 'increased engagement' with Southeast Asia, in line with the government's priority to 'deepen engagement in our region', or by providing additional student accommodation (the initial purpose of the proposed cap was to free-up housing). 'Strategically important' cohorts including Pacific and Timor-Leste students and scholarship holders will continue to receive high-priority visa processing, and some students, including those moving from Tafe institutes to public universities, will be exempt from the planning level. The minister for home affairs, Tony Burke, said the changes would ensure student visa processing supported 'genuine education outcomes' and strategic priorities. 'This is about backing providers who do the right things and giving them the certainty they need to grow sustainably,' he said. The federal government replaced its failed international student cap by slowing visa processing, a move the former deputy immigration secretary described as 'political point scoring'. The new Ministerial Direction 111 (MD111), rolled out in late 2024 introduced two categories of student visa processing: 'high priority' and 'standard priority', instead of capping numbers. All international providers received high priority processing up to 80% of their indicative cap, with slower processing after this. Prior to that, Ministerial Direction 107 (MD107) was employed as an arbitrary cap that gave visa processing priority to 'low risk' sandstone universities and students from 'low risk' nations, disproportionately affecting applicants from south Asia and regional universities. The education department said MD111 would be replaced with an updated ministerial direction later in 2025 to 'manage student visa prioritisation in line with the 2026 allocations'. It will continue the principles of MD111. The international education sector will be continue to be heavily regulated by the government. From 2027, the new Australian Tertiary Education Commission will manage higher education growth, subject to legislation passing, indicating there will not be a shift back to a market-led approach. For the international Vet sector from 2027, the federal government will continue to use visa processing and integrity reforms to direct the proportion of international students. The education minister, Jason Clare, said the sector was an 'incredibly important export industry' that had to be expanded sustainably. 'The new planning level gives the sector certainty to continue delivering a high-quality educational experience to international students, while addressing national priorities.' The next step is for the government to meet its 2026 target. Andrew Norton, a higher education policy professor at Monash University, said that despite the modest reforms, other migration policies in place to block or deter international students could mean the actual number falls short of 295,000. Norton noted in the Conversation that the successive migration policies had particularly decimated offshore demand for vocational education, which dropped by 75% in the first six months of 2025 compared with 2023. After consistently calling for growth in the international student market, Universities Australia's chief executive officer, Luke Sheehy, said the government's approach was 'sensible' and would provide 'stability and certainty'. 'We'll continue to work constructively with the government to strengthen the integrity of the sector, including the design of a new ministerial direction,' Sheehy said. International students have welcomed the changes, but warned the government needs to go further to lure students back. International officer at the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA), Weihong Liang, said international education needed a 'reset' towards student welfare and support, 'instead of the constant rhetoric around the revenue they bring in'. He pointed out international student visa fees almost tripled since 2023, from $710 to $2,000 – and not were not directed towards university services or funding for accommodation. 'Experiences of perceived unfair treatment have lasting impacts, potentially affecting Australia's international relationships, educational partnerships and economic opportunities far into the future,' Liang said. Deputy Greens leader and higher education spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, said during the election campaign that international students had been used as a 'political football'. 'Blaming international students for the housing crisis was pure racist dog-whistling and a far cry from reality,' she said. 'Australia's reputation was trashed by Labor's politically motivated international student caps and high visa fees, with students turning away and university rankings declining. 'Now Labor is trying to crawl back on their reckless international student caps but still without a rationale or a long-term plan to address [this] crisis.' The Coalition has also toned down its messaging. The opposition's education spokesperson, Jonathon Duniam, walked away from his party's call for Australia to slash 80,000 international student places, promising a more 'sensitive' approach this term. He said tertiary providers needed clarity on how the target was chosen, 'while ensuring that there are no losers'. 'Regional universities and high-quality specialist providers should not be swept up in a one-size-fits-all approach,' he said. 'We will work with tertiary sector to get this right.'
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Gary Lineker and Jeremy Corbyn back Mo Salah after calling out 'Palestinian Pele' tribute
Mohamed Salah has raised a debate around football's reaction to the Gaza crisis after questioning a UEFA social media post about the death of Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid UEFA have been placed under increased pressure to respond after Mohamed Salah's words helped gather momentum behind a controversial social media post. European football's governing body have been placed in the spotlight after the Liverpool forward publicly questioned their tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid. The footballer, who was known as the 'Palestinian Pele', was killed in Gaza on Wednesday. The Palestine Football Association said the 41-year-old was killed by Israeli troops while waiting at an aid station in Gaza City. The PFA added: 'The number of footballers killed or who died from starvation has reached 421, including 103 children.' In a post on X on Friday, UEFA wrote: 'Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the 'Palestinian Pele'. A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times'. Salah later quote-tweeted it, writing: 'Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?' At the time of writing, his post has been viewed 80 million times and has now caught the attention of other influential people. Former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker reshared Salah's post on his Instagram story on Saturday, adding in another post: 'We can't hear you Uefa'. Meanwhile, former Labour leader turned independent MP Jeremy Corbyn echoed the sentiment, replying to Salah by writing: 'Well said Mo!' Mirror Football has contacted UEFA to request comment. The death of al-Obeid, who is survived by his wife and five children, is a high-profile example of the war in Gaza crossing over into the sporting world. The PFA has been keen to highlight the impact of the Israeli occupation on sport, reporting that 288 sports facilities, encompassing stadiums, training grounds, gyms and clubhouses, have been damaged or turned into rubble. Liverpool and Egypt forward Salah has a history of speaking out on the Gaza conflict. In a video posted on Instagram in October 2023, he said: "It is not always easy to speak in times like this. There has been too much violence and too much heartbreak and brutality. "The escalations in the recent weeks is unbearable to witness. All lives are sacred and must be protected. The massacres need to stop. Families are being torn apart." Pressure has been increasing on Israel to end its occupation of Gaza, with UN-backed global food security experts warning last month the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out". Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says 217 people have now died of malnutrition, including 100 children. Israel placed a total blockade on aid to Gaza in March and has handed over responsibility for aid to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The UN reported earlier this month that at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food since late May. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Trust selling Skye clan estate and historic castle under probe
The Clan Donald Lands Trust (CDLT) has overseen Clan Donald's lands on the Isle of Skye since the 1970s, which includes the famous Armadale Castle and visitor centre. The National reported in March how the trust had made the "difficult" decision to sell the entire 20,000-acre estate due to financial challenges. The decision was met with criticism from locals and families around the world with ties to the clan, which is one of the oldest and largest in Scotland. READ MORE: Ross Greer says bullying within Scottish Greens left him hospitalised twice Now, the Sunday Mail reports that the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has opened an investigation into the CDLT's governance and finances, following complains. A spokesman told the Sunday Mail: "OSCR has received a number of concerns from the public about the CDLT. "We are now engaging with the charity trustees to establish the facts of this case, and we have sought extensive information and explanation from them. "We are specifically looking to understand the current financial position of the charity and the circumstances that led to the decision to put significant charitable assets up for sale." The watchdog added that it would decide if further action is necessary once it has established the facts. The CDLT was founded in 1971 to manage the clan's assets and to "promote and preserve the history and heritage of Clan Donald". The estate, which covers most of the island's southern Sleat peninsula, is used by tenant crofters and farmers. READ MORE: The tax haven firms given cash by the Scottish Government revealed The historic home of the MacDonalds of Sleat, Armadale Castle, is also located on the estate and is a popular tourist destination which includes a museum, cafe and walled garden. The CDLT has four trustees – its chair, London businessman Ranald Macdonald, owner of the Boisdale restaurants, Yorkshire-based landowner Sir Ian MacDonald of Sleat, US-based retired Major Bruce MacDonald, and Diane Carey-Schmitz. When the decision to sell the estate was announced earlier this year, many locals were reportedly taken by surprise. The National reported how Community Land Scotland claimed that residents were "understandably frustrated and disappointed" regarding the trust's decision and called for the sale to be delayed.
