With the ABC news reports, the recent approach of the Australian general election, the Coalition has announced plans to cap the number of international students at Australian universities at 240,000 per year. However, this figure is 30,000 fewer than the limit proposed by the Labor Party last year. Additionally, it emphasizes that in public universities, international students should not exceed 25% of the total student population in the future. These measures will significantly restrict the number of international students coming to Australia, and the incident has sparked extensive discussion. The author will interview two international students in this news story to gain insights into their perspectives and views.
（This photo was taken by the author）
Wayne, a 24-year-old Chinese master’s student in economics at the University of Sydney, told reporters: “I don’t like what the Coalition is doing. It seems to be out of step with the modern economic situation. We have created a lot of economic value for Australia. On the one hand, we provide many tuition fees for universities. On the other hand, we also boost the Australian economy in terms of daily life. I can’t understand why the Coalition is now restricting the number of international students.”
Ming, another Chinese international student, shares similar views. “I don’t understand why the Coalition is doing this. International students have brought diverse academic backgrounds to Australia. For example, many Australian universities, like QS, have risen significantly in global rankings compared to previous years. This demonstrates that sufficient international students have significantly improved universities’ academic achievements. We have provided substantial academic capabilities, making these institutions renowned worldwide. Currently, the approach of Australian universities is the right choice: when more international students come, universities can attract those with stronger academic backgrounds, further enhancing their academic attainments and global reputation. Additionally, schools receive substantial tuition fees, and as their fame grows, more students will enroll, creating a positive cycle that benefits institutions. However, the Coalition’s restriction on international student numbers will severely impede the development of local universities.”
The reason the Coalition Party has chosen to do this may lie in the fact. First of all, it aims to gain more votes from Australian residents. Many Australians have complained about the high local housing prices. For example, BBC News published an article titled “Australia’s looming election brings housing crisis into focus,” pointing out that many Australians may be unable to afford the local rent. Therefore, during the general election, the Coalition Party may want to bring down housing prices by reducing the influx of international students to win more votes and succeed in the election. For instance, Ming has also expressed her views: “This is simply ridiculous. We haven’t done anything against the rules. The increase in local housing prices depends on urban development. For example, Sydney has developed extremely well, so housing prices are high, but this has no direct connection to international students. As international students, we also face significant difficulties. The rise in rent forces us to rent expensive homes, greatly increasing our study abroad costs. We must pay high tuition fees and bear high rents, putting enormous financial pressure on us.”
Wayne also mentioned, “The Coalition targets us mainly because we are international students and do not have voting rights. If we did have the right to vote, their approach or stance toward us might be completely different. It mainly comes down to votes. They prioritize Australian voters’ interests while ignoring ours, which is unfair.”
Similarly, this policy infringes on the interests of many international students because they may not be able to apply to their desired schools due to the policy restrictions. However, even if many international students oppose it, they are not Australian residents and do not have the right to vote, so it will not affect the Coalition Party’s vote count. Using this method, they can better shift the blame for the high housing prices onto international students instead of other factors, such as Australia’s economic reasons. In addition, the University of South Australia has pointed out that the rise in Australian housing prices has nothing to do with international students.
However, this policy may bring about many negative impacts on Australia. Firstly, it may severely affect Australia’s economic income. This is because many international students pay high tuition fees, which can better contribute to developing local universities. Moreover, the arrival of international students can effectively boost regional economic growth. The local accommodation and catering industries will also thrive as the number of international students increases. Conversely, if the number of international students decreases, it will significantly lead to a slowdown in the local economy. Secondly, the presence of international students also plays a crucial role in maintaining the scientific research and technological capabilities of many Australian universities. For instance, SBS News reported that Vicki Thomson, the chief executive of the Group of Eight, mentioned that the Group of Eight has attracted outstanding talents worldwide. This implies that reducing the number of international students will result in fewer of these excellent individuals coming to Australia, which will cause a decline in Australia’s academic achievements.
Therefore, whether it is the views of international students, the current stance of the Coalition Party, or the presentation of relevant data, they all indicate that reducing the number of international students may not be a good choice. If the Coalition Party implements this policy, it may lead to a decline in Australia’s local economy and academic capabilities. It may not be a favorable policy for Australia’s development.
Keywords: university; political
Reference:
ABC news:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-06/coalition-to-cap-international-students-240000/105142968
BBC news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5wlevy647o
SBS news:
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