鈥淎ustralia is a great multicultural nation, and we need a migration system that acknowledges the past and future benefits of that,鈥 黑料老司机 Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.
鈥淲e support the government鈥檚 focus on streamlining the system and adding flexibility to ensure it is fit for purpose and can meet Australia鈥檚 skills and economic needs in the coming decades.
鈥淚mportantly, the strategy acknowledges how vital international education is to the economy and Australia鈥檚 prosperity. It makes us tens of billions of dollars each year, supports tens of thousands of jobs and helps pay for the essential services all Australians rely on.
鈥淲e welcome further measures to preserve the integrity and strength of the education system while protecting students from unscrupulous operators seeking to exploit them for personal gain.
鈥淲e also applaud the government鈥檚 steps to simplify graduate visas to improve the applicant experience and give both graduates and employers more confidence in their ongoing work rights.
鈥満诹侠纤净 has called for a genuine student test to replace the genuine temporary entrant requirement and we are pleased government has accepted this recommendation. This will ensure we are getting the right people with genuine ambitions to attend university in Australia.
鈥淭he creation of new visa streams to attract researchers to our universities and keep more international graduates in Australia is also a good thing.
鈥淭he skilled people who come to work and study at our world-class institutions make an enormous economic and social contribution. We must continue to attract them for mutual benefit.
鈥淎ny changes, now or in the future, that restrict the movement of genuine students to our shores need to be weighed carefully against the significant benefits they bring, during and after their studies.
鈥満诹侠纤净 has engaged deeply with government on the development of the migration strategy and will continue to do so through its implementation as we all work toward a better migration system that underpins a flourishing multicultural nation.鈥
