Following the re-election of the Albanese Government, Australia’s student accommodation sector is calling for a more collaborative and evidence-based approach to the national housing debate—starting with an end to the scapegoating of international students.
The Student Accommodation Council, the peak body for purpose-built student housing (PBSA), has welcomed the stability offered by the election outcome and urged policymakers to work with the higher education sector on a coordinated plan to support both students and housing supply.
“International students are not the cause of Australia’s housing crisis,” said Torie Brown, Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council. “They make up just six per cent of the rental market, and more than 40 per cent live outside of it altogether.”
Brown stressed that cutting student visas—an approach floated in recent months—was “a blunt instrument” that risked damaging a vital export sector without delivering meaningful relief to renters.
Instead, the Council is renewing its call for a national accommodation guarantee for all first-year international students at metropolitan universities. The proposal would require universities to ensure incoming students have access to safe, dedicated student housing before arriving in Australia.
“Providing guaranteed, student-only accommodation would reduce pressure on the broader rental market while giving international students a secure and supported start to life here,” said Brown. “This is a win-win policy.”
The PBSA sector also sees the election result as a green light for renewed investment—so long as the policy environment encourages growth.
“With the election now behind us, investors are once again looking to Australia. But to unlock new development, they need to see consistent policy signals that back student accommodation, not undermine it,” Brown said.
The Council says collaboration between universities, the student housing sector, and government will be essential to ensuring that international students are supported, housing supply is increased, and Australia remains a competitive destination for global talent.
“We look forward to working with the Albanese Government and all policymakers to build a smarter, more sustainable approach to student housing—one that supports a thriving international education sector and helps solve broader housing challenges,” Brown concluded.
