The CPSU NSW says plans for major immigration cuts targeting international students threaten job security for its members working in the state’s universities.  

The Labor Federal Government plans to tighten rules for international students, preventing students from bringing their families and “enforcing more departures and deportations once visas expire”.  

Meanwhile, One Nation’s new immigration policy proposal will reduce international student places from 590,000 to 350,000. 

“Thousands of university workers have their jobs put at risk”, said Universities Australia Chief Executive Luke Sheehy. 

The CPSU NSW, which represents professional staff in the state’s university sector, said this uncertainty is a direct result of a decades-long withdrawal by governments, both state and federal, from university funding.

Universities have relied heavily on international students as a key source of income since the Dawkins reforms in 1987, which set in place a more commercially focused sector. Therefore, any policy proposals on students coming from overseas and paying fees will cause Australia universities to face major revenue loss resulting in job cuts. 

“The CPSU NSW urges the Australian Government to reform university funding fairly, so jobs no longer rely on changes to international student revenue,” said the union’s Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright.