Education Minister criticises the coalition’s decision as “bizarre” amid growing concerns over the rental crisis and dodgy operators in the student sector

Education Minister Jason Clare has strongly criticised the Coalition’s decision to block a key Bill that seeks to cap international student enrolments at 270,000 for 2025. The move has sparked outrage from Clare, who called the opposition’s stance “bizarre” and questioned the reasoning behind it.

The Bill, officially known as the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, is designed to address the increasing number of international students contributing to Australia’s rental crisis and to tighten oversight of the education sector. Under the proposed legislation, the Education Minister would gain additional powers to intervene in courses, a move that has raised concerns from some education providers.

Clare, visibly frustrated, questioned the logic behind the Coalition’s opposition. “I think Australians are waking up this morning thinking, ‘What the hell is going on in the Liberal Party? What’s going on in Peter Dutton’s brain?’” Clare said. He accused Dutton of making politically motivated decisions rather than focusing on controlling migration, and called on him to answer tough questions on the matter.

The Australian tertiary education sector, which is valued at nearly $50 billion, has strongly opposed the proposed student cap. Critics argue that such a move would have adverse effects on the industry, particularly for private providers and regional universities that rely heavily on international student enrolments.

Despite the criticisms, the government argues that the cap is necessary to address housing pressures and curb the influence of rogue operators in the international student sector. Clare defended the plan, asserting that it was aimed at ensuring quality education and protecting local communities.

The government’s approach has also drawn fire from the hospitality sector, which has expressed concerns over a reduction in working hours for international students. Clare’s comments come after senior Coalition figures, such as Senator Jane Hume, voiced their opposition to the Bill, calling for more consultation with education providers and a more comprehensive approach to addressing the sector’s challenges.