The ruling party of Australia, the Labor Party, has pledged that it would hike the visa fees for international students by 25 percent if re-elected.
Sharing the party’s plans, Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said that the student visa fees are set to increase from the current AUD$1,600 to AUD$2,000 if the Labor Party wins the upcoming federal election, VisaGuide.World reports.
As explained by the two officials, this measure is aimed at targeting the education sector, as it has been a key driver of immigration to Australia.
It was further highlighted that the move is expected to generate around AUD$760 million in the next four years.
The Labor Party already increased the visa fees for international students in July of last year. Less than one year ago, the student visa fees were hiked from AUD$710 to AUD$1600.
Even though it was believed that for some time the fees would remain unchanged, the plans of the current ruling party were announced only some months after the opposition Coalition promised to put in place a new AUD$5,000 visa fee for international students.
The Coalition also proposed the conduct a review of the Temporary Graduate Visa, subclass 485, arguing that the current rules are being misused by international students to gain permanent residence and employment rights in Australia.
Labor Party Plans Slammed by Tertiary Education Council
While Minister Gallagher has considered the student visa fees hike as a sensible measure, the Tertiary Education Council of Australia has slammed such plans.
The Tertiary Education Council said that the increase in the student visa fees would make Australia a less attractive destination for students from other countries.
The same said that the hike would create more uncertainty as well as instability for the business environment, which is already in a very difficult time.
A non-refundable visa application charge of $2,000 in the “visa approval lottery” makes Australia a far less attractive destination for students. For the businesses that support those students, today’s announcement creates more uncertainty and instability in an already difficult business environment.
Australia has already started the early voting for federal elections. For this reason, the Labor Party said that it would make this change if re-elected.
It has been anticipated that over 18 million people will participate in early voting. The early voting began last week, on April 22, and will end this Thursday, on May 1. As for the formal election, it will begin on May 3.