Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has raised concerns over the Liberal National Coalition’s proposed policy to reduce the intake of new international students in higher education and vocational training.

The policy, which includes cutting international student visas by 80,000 and increasing visa application fees by up to NZ$5,000 ($2,800) for Group of Eight universities and introducing a new student charge of NZ$2,500 for changing education providers, has been met with criticism from the accountancy body.

CA ANZ Education, Skills and Migration Policy Leader Sarah Davidson commented on the potential repercussions of such measures, stating, “The international education sector plays an important role in developing global accounting talent, but caps like this risk damaging Australia’s global reputation.” Davidson emphasised the importance of focusing on the quality of skills and qualifications rather than the quantity of students.

The plan of the Coalition, if elected, would see a reduction of 30,000 foreign students annually compared to the current numbers under Labor’s plan, setting the cap at 240,000 international students each year.

The opposition leader Peter Dutton has linked the reduction in foreign students to the potential for Australians to “afford homes again” by alleviating the cost of living pressures, reported SBS News.

Additionally, the Coalition intends to review a visa that permits international students to remain in Australia for work and study post-completion, citing concerns over its “misuse” as a pathway to the Australian labour market and permanent migration. This review is part of the Coalition’s stance on what it calls “unsustainable” migration levels contributing to housing unaffordability.

Sarah Davidson further elaborated on the implications of the proposed cap, “We made these same points to Labor last year as part of consultations on the Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework which proposed caps on international student enrolments.” She warned that the cap could increase pressure on the graduate pipeline, exacerbate the accountant shortage, and have negative flow-on effects.

CA ANZ, representing nearly 140,000 financial professionals, supports strengthening the sustainability, quality, and integrity of Australia’s international education sector. The organisation cautions against reforms that could deter high-quality international students and harm Australia’s reputation as a global education provider.