Australian universities are starved of funds and forced to operate as commercial entities focused on profit, not the pursuit of knowledge.

While increasingly Australian universities depend on international students as a source of revenue, they are losing their appeal as places of quality education, and it is becoming harder for students to enrol and to obtain visas.

In 2022, Australia ranked fifth in the world as a destination for international students. In 2024, there are around 780 thousand international students in Australia. This cohort was attracted by the picture that local universities presented of Australia being a world-class leader in global research and innovation. Since the election of the Albanese government, however, there have been so many shifts in policy that those already here and those considering to apply do not know what to expect next.

Soon after election in 2022, the government announced that overseas students with relevant skills would be able to stay in the country after graduation. The overall migration cap was lifted. But then concerns grew about non-genuine applications, particularly from India. Restrictions were imposed on the number of hours that students could work. An investigation was launched into questionable VET courses. The public linked the surge in international student numbers with the worsening housing shortage. The 2023 Migration Review prompted ministers to vow that they would scrutinise student applications more thoroughly. Applications from China were often rejected on security grounds with no appeal. In May this year the financial requirement capacity for international........

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