The Coalition has retracted its previous stance on reducing the number of international students in higher education institutions by 80,000, which was a point of contention during the federal election campaign. Then opposition leader Peter Dutton had argued this move would create more housing and rental options for Australians, but the plan was criticized by the university sector as “isolationist” and reminiscent of Donald Trump’s anti-migration stance.
After the Coalition’s election defeat in May, its education spokesperson, Jonathon Duniam, has taken a more “sensitive” approach to international students. Duniam acknowledged that the discussion around reducing student numbers was part of their pre-election debate, which they lost.
While the Coalition is reconsidering its platform, Labor also intends to reduce the number of international students but with a smaller target of a maximum of 270,000 by 2025. The opposition has also appeared to soften its stance on other education policies, including opposition to the Liberal government’s plan to reduce student debt.
Dutton’s budget speech, where he pledged to restore a curriculum focused on critical thinking and common sense, came under scrutiny for suggesting that students were being “indoctrinated” at school. The opposition now focuses more on improving maths, reading, and science skills in schools.
Moreover, the Coalition aims to reset the tone of the immigration debate, with the shadow immigration minister emphasizing the importance of recognizing the contributions made by migrants to Australia. This shift indicates a more constructive approach to both higher education and immigration policies.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/20/federal-opposition-flags-more-sensitive-approach-to-foreign-students-at-australian-universities
