As the dust settles on Saturday’s election result the international education sector is responding to the outcome. We take a look at their reactions below and recapping what their election statements said.
The next important announcement for the sector will be the allocation of portfolios. However, with some seats still too close to call, the Prime Minister has said that he would wait to announce his ministry.
International Education Association of Australia (IEAA)
“On balance, a strong Labor majority should now give the Albanese Government confidence to not be cowed on the student numbers issue. Of course, much will still depend on the composition of the Senate regarding their legislative agenda,” said Phil Honeywood, Chief Executive Officer, IEAA.
IEAA included recommendations in three areas in its Federal Election Platform 2025:
- Integrity and good governance
- Economic development and skills integration
- Soft power diplomacy and community integration
This included calls for a review and launch a new National Strategy for International Education, meaningful engagement with the National Council for International Education, and a re-established Council for International Students in Australia.
Honeywood also notes the importance of the ministry announcement, saying “he individuals appointed to our sector’s key portfolios of Education and Home Affairs will also be crucial determinants of our advocacy’s success!”
Universities Australia
In responding to the election outcome, Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer, Luke Sheehy said it was ready to continue working constructively with the Government.
On international education, Sheehy said “Universities also need clarity around the Government’s plan for international students beyond Ministerial Direction 111. This is a stopgap measure at best – our sector needs certainty and stability”.
In its 2025 Federal Election Statement Universities Australia called for a strengthening of the foundation of Australia’s world-class international education sector. This included working with universities to develop a new international education strategy, growing the sector sustainably and expanding the delivery of international education offshore.
Innovative Research Universities (IRU)
“An immediate priority must be collaborative work between government and universities on the finalisation of the strategic framework for international education,” says the IRU, welcoming “the government’s commitment to sustainable growth in international education, and a more balanced and diversified system that prioritises the experience and wellbeing of our students”.
This aligns with the joint statement with RUN and ATN, in which the three peaks called for a new Australian international education strategy to be collaboratively developed in genuine partnership between government and education providers. This should include a comprehensive review of the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF), they said.
Regional Universities Network (RUN)
RUN’s response to the election outcome does not mention international education specifically, although, as above, its position on international education prior to the election was clear.
“Regional universities play a vital role in driving Australia’s economic and social prosperity while providing life changing opportunities for traditionally underrepresented students to engage with higher education,” said RUN’s Chief Executive Officer, Alec Webb.
English Australia (EA)
EA’s priority actions in its Federal Election Statement 2025 included an urgent shift to efficient, transparent, fair, and consistent student visa processing and an urgent review of student visa application fees and the study rights of visitor and working holiday visa holders. It was taken by surprise with Labor’s pre-election announcement that it would raise student visa fees to $2000, calling it “wholly unreasonable”.
Australian Technology Network (ATN)
Like RUN, ATN’s welcome to the incoming Government did not mention international education specifically, although it did say that the ATN would be “embracing new opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region”.
Prior to the election the ATN called for a balanced international education system that places the interests of students at its heart –prioritising quality, sustainability, diversity and equity.
Group of Eight (Go8)
The Go8 has been uncharacteristically quiet following the election outcome, although perhaps it is taking a well-deserved break after being a target of the Coalition in the lead up to the election. Chief Executive, Vicki Thomson had earlier condemned the Coalition’s policy for international education, saying it made “no sense on any level”.
Thomson also said, “The Go8 has been very clear that we agree it is time to review our international student market and have a detailed and evidence-based review of the best policy settings to ensure Australia is set up for a changing future”.
Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA)
The 2025 IHEA Federal Election Platform had five pillars of reform for international education:
- Ensure the sustainability of international education
- Reduce fees for student visas for Australia to remain competitive
- Access to performance data on international education agents
- Allow onshore commissions for international education agents
- Greater pathways to permanent residency for graduates in priority disciplines
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA)
ITECA’s Federal Election Manifesto called for a closer focus on students in the international education system. Its call included:
- A student visa processing framework that has timely, consistent and transparent outcomes.
- Strengthening the quality assurance of international agents.
- Alignment of international education and migration strategies.
TAFE Directors Australia (TDA)
As for TDA, it has set itself a new low in its understanding of the international education policy environment, telling its constituents on LinkedIn that a Labor win means “A cap of 270,000 new international enrolments across higher education and VET for 2025”. Do better TDA!
