A range of amendments were proposed by members of the crossbench during the debate in Parliament this week on the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, with the government supporting only one amendment, put forward by Independent MP, Dr Monique Ryan.
The amendment requires that the Minister conduct a review of Part 7 of the Bill (Part 7 relates to the imposing of enrolment caps) within the first six months of 2026, with a written report within six months of the commencement of the review. The review must be conducted by an independent expert.
The review must consider, but it’s not limited to, the impact of enrolment caps on providers, on net overseas migration and housing availability. It must also consider the impact of caps on the quality of education offered to international and local students.
The Koala News covered the debate in detail, Fate of ESOS Bill now in Senate’s hands after passing Reps.
A copy of the amendment is reproduced in full below.
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL
(1) Page 2 (after line 12), after clause 3, insert:
4 Review of the operation of Part 7 of Schedule 1 (about enrolment limits)
(1) The Minister must cause a review to be conducted of the operation of the amendments made by Part 7 of Schedule 1 to this Act.
(2) The Minister must ensure that:
(a) the review is conducted by an independent expert; and
(b) the independent expert has access to all relevant information from the Department and providers.
(3) Without limiting the matters that may be considered when conducting the review, the review must consider:
(a) the impact on providers of the enrolment limits resulting from the amendments; and
(b) the impact of those enrolment limits on net overseas migration to Australia and housing availability; and
(c) the impact of those enrolment limits on the quality of education offered to international and local students.
(4) The review must commence in the first 6 months of 2026.
(5) The independent expert must give the Minister a written report of the review within 6 months of the commencement of the review.
(6) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of the review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.
