Clare Defends International Education Reforms Amid Senator Hanson’s Criticism

Australian Minister for Education, Jason Clare, has pushed back against claims that the country's international student industry is a 'farce' made by One Nation leader, Senator Pauline Hanson.

The Australian government's approach to international student numbers has come under fire from One Nation leader, Senator Pauline Hanson, who described the industry as a "farce". However, Minister for Education, Jason Clare, has defended the government's policies, arguing that they are necessary to protect the integrity of the system.

Senator Hanson made her comments to News24, stating that people are using student visas as a "backdoor" to enter the country. When asked for a specific number of international students she would cut, Senator Hanson replied that she was not putting a figure on it.

In contrast, Minister Clare emphasized that the number of international students starting a degree in Australia remains below pre-pandemic levels. He pointed out that the government has introduced reforms aimed at preventing students from being exploited and curbing practices that undermine the integrity of international education.

The government has set a National Planning Level of 295,000 international students for 2026, which is 25,000 higher than the previous year. Minister Clare rejected the suggestion that this contradicts the government's migration policy, arguing that net overseas migration numbers and international student planning numbers measure different things.

The minister also defended the government's decision to triple the international student visa application fee, from $700 to $2,500. He argued that the money raised from this increase is helping to fund the government's higher education reforms, including the University Accord, which will inject an additional AUS$3.5 billion over 10 years to expand access to university for students from disadvantaged and regional backgrounds.

Minister Clare emphasized that international students should not be viewed as taking university places away from Australians. He pointed out that the government's reforms aim to increase access to university for students from disadvantaged and regional backgrounds, and that international student revenues are helping to support the expansion of paid placements for students undertaking practical training.

The minister acknowledged that further reforms are required to address the issue of international students remaining in Australia after completing their studies. However, he rejected the suggestion that most international students remain permanently in Australia, stating that "most international students go home, full stop".

Overall, Minister Clare's comments suggest that the Australian government is committed to protecting the integrity of the international student industry while also addressing concerns about the impact of international students on the country's education system.

Source: The PIE News