Peter Dutton has said overseas students appealing visa refusals to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) are the "modern version of boat arrivals".
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While there are serious policy issues arising from the very large number of students and former students currently stuck on temporary visas, comparing their situation with boat arrivals is just nonsense.
Boat arrivals seek to enter Australia without a visa and are subject to mandatory detention.
Because they often spend many years in detention, the costs to the taxpayer associated with boat arrivals are massive, especially as Australia has adopted a policy since mid-2013 of not allowing boat arrivals to settle in Australia.
This means long delays whilst a re-settlement place is found in another country or attempts are made to return unsuccessful asylum seekers to their country of origin.
Students on the other hand, enter Australia on a valid visa that was obtained following assessment of an application, including payment of tuition fees, English language tests, payment for private health insurance, etc.
To remain legally in Australia, they must continue to meet study requirements and remain up to date in payment of tuition fees.
They are part of one of Australia's largest industries, employing around 200,000 Australians with many businesses, large and small, dependent on their spending and on them for labour.
After the Coalition government stomped on the student visa accelerator in 2021 and early 2022, the number of student visa holders as well........