University lobbies that denounced Labor over international student quotas have to change tack if they want to remain in the game.
Labor isn’t completely friendless in Parliament over international student quotas – although Jason Clare probably won’t praise his latest new pal. Pauline Hanson announced on Friday that while the Government’s cuts do not go far enough, “any reduction in the middle of a housing crisis driven by high immigration is welcome.”
And she slammed the Coalition, “they have decided to oppose the Bill on the ridiculous basis that it’s ‘imperfect.’ Since when was any government legislation perfect?”
Which means international student numbers as they stand are a live election issue. This is bad for university lobbies that denounced the government up to now because the alternative is the Coalition going harder if it wins. Education shadow minster Sarah Henderson promises “a cap which will go further to reduce student numbers than Labor, specifically at major metropolitan unis to relieve stress on rental markets in our major cities.” Senator Henderson most likely means Group of Eight universities in Sydney and Melbourne, but her statement might make UTS and RMIT nervous.
Regional universities will also wonder whether the National Party understands the nature of international student demand. The Nats are talking up more international places for country campuses which ignores the obvious – offshore students want to stay in cities. Its why regionals have campuses in town.
While it seemed unlikely, there was always a possibility that the Coalition would oppose quotas, which has happened. Not because they are poor policy but because the Opposition is short of election issues that will play to its anti-immigration base. Although not to those who listen to Senator Hanson.
And so universities are in a position where the devil in the Government’s detail is better than the Opposition’s unknowns. Neither side of politics is offering plans that are good for the sector – which is no doubt why three of the four university lobbies are setting siloes aside to try to craft a more effective advocacy platform for HE pre-election.
One thing is clear – the sector is going to continue to bounce around between ideological hotspots until a group of universities coalesce behind a clear strategy that plays shamelessly to the interests of middle Australia.
