The Senate Order of Business has been released for the final Parliamentary sitting day and, as anticipated, the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 has not been listed for debate, meaning the Government must now shelve its plans to introduce enrolment caps from 1 January 2025.
As reported by The Koala (TKN 251124), until today it was still technically possible that the Government might do a last minute deal with the Coalition to pass the ESOS Amendment Bill. However, the mudslinging has intensified between Labor Senator Tony Sheldon and Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson as the week has progressed, making the likelihood of a deal being struck between Labor and the Coalition sub-zero.
The nasty exchanges during the week have also meant that there would be little appetite for the two political parties to collaborate in responding to a call by the Regional Universities Network (RUN), Innovative Research Universities (IRU) and Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) for “Parliament to consider the remaining components of the ESOS Amendment Bill which focus on enhancing quality and integrity in the system” (TKN 251124).
What happens now? The ESOS Amendment Bill remains adjourned in the Senate. Although there are Parliamentary sitting dates in early 2025, prior to a possible May election, there is little reason or incentive for the Government to resume the debate. This effectively means that the Bill is, as Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi put it, “dead in the water”.
As for what the Government will do next, we will be keenly watching. What we know is that Ministerial Direction 107 remains in place for now and the Government has made no other announcements since its decision about visa Evidence Levels early last week (TKN 191124).
