‘Ghost colleges’ targeted in crackdown on dodgy providers bringing in overseas students

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Key Points

New population data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics is set to be released on Thursday.
Government forecasts show net overseas migration will be halved by next year.
Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said there was no place for “dodgy” providers in the education sector.

Dodgy education providers exploiting international students in Australia will be issued warnings as part of the federal government’s push to overhaul the nation’s migration system.

On Thursday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics will publish its latest population data from the September 2023 quarter, which could show a net overseas migration total of more than 150,000 largely due to international student arrivals.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the government’s push to bring down net migration would likely not yet be captured by the data.

Following a migration review, the government has reduced the number of student visa approvals in a bid to stop the rorting of the international education system.

“Since September, the government’s actions have led to substantial declines in migration levels, with recent international student visa grants down by 35 per cent on the previous year,” O’Neil said.

Government forecasts show net overseas migration will be halved by next year.

On the weekend, the next round of the government’s migration commitments will come into force.

These include increasing English language requirements for student and graduate visas and the introduction of a new “genuine student” test.

This test is expected to crack down on international students coming to Australia primarily to work rather than study.

The government will also have enhanced powers to suspend high-risk education providers from recruiting international students.

Known as “ghost colleges” and “visa factories”, the providers will be issued with warning notices and given six months to improve.

If they fail to do so, the providers will be suspended from recruiting international students.

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor said there was no place for dodgy providers in the education sector as they undermined the majority who did the right thing.

“We put a premium on ensuring students — international and domestic — feel safe and welcome while they learn skills in our high-quality VET sector,” he said.

“Increased powers for the regulator and tougher penalties will deter dodgy providers who currently see fines as a risk worth taking or merely a ‘cost of doing business.'”