The government is pushing forward with its intention to impose enrolment caps on international student numbers, despite the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 still needing to pass through the Senate and the government signalling that it is open to some changes being made. The Minister for Education, Jason Clare, told Parliament on Tuesday during the debate about the bill that “I do hope to be in a position to provide universities and other providers with their indicative student numbers in the very near future”.
As reported by Koala yesterday (Fate of ESOS Bill now in Senate’s hands after passing Reps), Clare also told Parliament that he would seek “to look at what amendments we might be able to accept when the bill is debated in the Senate”.
The Minister’s comments about indicative student numbers were in response to proposed amendments by Independent MP, Kate Chaney, including delaying the introduction of caps on the number of international students to 2026. These amendments were not supported by the government.
The Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee was initially due to report on its inquiry into the bill by 15 August, but this has now been pushed to 6 September. As the year ticks away, anxiety levels are increasing.
| 6 August | First hearing of the Senate Committee on the ESOS Amendment Bill |
| 13 August | ESOS Amendment Bill passes through the lower house |
| 14 August | Senate agrees to extend Senate Committee reporting date to 6 September |
| 15 August | Senate Committee initially due to report on the bill |
| 20 August | Questions on notice due to the Senate Committee from the first hearing |
| 26 August | Second hearing of the Senate Committee on the bill |
| 6 September | Senate Committee report on its inquiry into the bill due |
| 31 December | Ministerial instrument must be in place determining enrolment limits |
| 1 January 2025 | Caps commence |
