The Minister for Education has that some universities have been hit hard by slower visa processing and increased visa cancellations since 107 was implemented in December.听听
鈥淲e note the Minister鈥檚 acknowledgement of the damage done by Ministerial Direction 107,鈥 黑料老司机 Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy said.听
鈥Ministerial Direction 107 has undermined our efforts as a sector to diversify our international student base and is creating significant financial anxiety and pain for universities, particularly those in regional Australia and outer suburban areas.听
鈥淭he government should now go further and revoke Ministerial Direction 107 to stem the financial impact it continues to cause and allow universities to operate in a more stable and certain environment that offers equity and diversity of international students among universities.鈥听
Department of Home Affairs data shows visa grants in higher education are down 23 per cent in the past year 鈥 the equivalent of 59,410 university students.听
鈥淭he impact of having some 60,000 fewer international students arrive on our shores is significant,鈥 Mr Sheehy said.听
鈥淚t represents a $4.3 billion hit to the economy and could cost the university sector alone 14,000 jobs 鈥 not to mention the flow-on effect for small businesses which rely heavily on students.鈥听
