Stricter English language requirements for international students have been flagged by Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonathon Duniam, as the Coalition plans to release its migration policy before the end of the year.
Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph at the weekend, Duniam is quoted as saying “I think the requirements, the standards of these tests, do need to be improved… There’s no question about it”.
While Senator Duniam may have no questions, his statement raises several for this author and for the sector, including: What exactly needs to be improved? And what evidence is the Senator relying on to make this assessment?
English Australia’s CEO, Ian Aird, said in response to Duniam’s comments that “English language standards in Australia were only recently reviewed and the minimum level was increased”.
“The level required is the global standard. All the tests students do recently went through a long and incredibly robust academic and security review. They demonstrated conclusively they are world class. We have a world class system,” said Aird.
When asked by Sky News to confirm the claims made by Duniam, leader of the Liberal Party Sussan Ley refused to do so but reiterated that the party’s policy would be released before the end of the year.
Ley went on to blame the government for failing to build necessary infrastructure, saying “My criticism of this government around migration policy is … not a criticism of any migrant or migrant community”.
Despite this, the international education sector will be concerned that the renewed debate risks further fuelling negative public sentiment towards migrants, including international students.
In response to the Coalition’s plans, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi called it the “ultimate dog whistle”.
“You can’t say migrants aren’t a problem and then call for a values screening test to demonise and other them,” she said. “This is what is feeding the rising racism in this country.”
In addition to strengthened English language requirements for international students, the Coalition has also flagged a citizenship-style values test for temporary visa holders, with Nationals leader David Littleproud telling ABC’s Insiders program that a values test would “demonstrate the value of citizenship” and “principles of freedom”.
