Yesterday, on the final parliamentary sitting day of the year, the House of Representatives passed the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025, with the Government saying it is “determined to strengthen the integrity of the international education and ensure it maintains its social licence”.
On the passage of the Bill, Minister for Education Jason Clare said it would give the Government “more tools to stop unscrupulous individuals in the international education system trying to make a quick buck”.
Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said the reforms were aimed at strengthening quality and student protections. “Australia’s future success requires a focus on quality, integrity and a great student experience,” he said, adding that the changes would crack down on exploitation, increase transparency and safeguard the sector’s reputation.
The House of Representatives agreed to the amendments passed by the Senate on Thursday, its final sitting day of the year. (TKN 281125)
Senate amendments voted down
When reporting on the Senate’s passage of the Bill on Thursday night, the amendments proposed by former Opposition Shadow Spokeswoman for Education, Senator Sarah Henderson and by Senator Mehreen Faruqui on behalf of the Australian Greens had not yet been published.
Although the three amendments were ultimately voted down in the Senate, it is instructive to understand what was proposed.
Henderson’s amendments
As reported by The Koala, despite being dumped by her party as Shadow, Senator Henderson split with the Liberal Party to propose two individual amendments.
- Limits on international student commencements
Henderson’s first amendment proposed restricting international student commencements for Table A university providers to a cap of 25 per cent of the total number of commencements enrolled with the provider in that calendar year.
It further proposed that dual-sector regional university, defined in the amendment as Charles Darwin University and Central Queensland University, would have the same 25 per cent limit across their combined higher education and VET commencements.
Additional student housing would enable an increase in the percentage cap, to a maximum of 30 per cent.
Penalties, including restrictions on future enrolments and financial penalties, would apply for those who exceed the limits. Providers would also have been required to report within three months of the end of the calendar year, with a civil penalty applying for failing to do so.
- Linking student visas to principal course and provider
Henderson’s second amendment would have required that confirmation of enrolments be issued only by the principal course provider to which the student visa application relates.
Greens amendment
The Greens’ amendment sought to omit the provision making “ministerial powers to suspend applications” disallowable.
Now that the legislation has passed both Houses of Parliament, it will be sent for Royal Assent before becoming law.
