Last year, the federal government was blindsided in its attempts to bring in major changes to the post-secondary international student education sector when the Coalition announced it would vote against the proposed legislation - even though it is largely in lockstep with Labor on the need to dial back student numbers.
In response, the government indicated it will use more subtle and bureaucratic methods to limit student numbers, most notably with a go-slow on granting student visas.
In December, Ministerial Direction (MD) 107 was revoked and replaced by MD111. Under this new regime, visa applications will be placed in one of two groups, with the first 80 per cent of the now-unofficial cap taking about eight weeks to process, after which processing times will double. One key change here is that a student will count towards the 80 per cent when the visa is granted, and not when (as previously) the student starts study.
De facto caps
These de facto caps will apply primarily to higher education and VET courses, broadly in line with the aims of the now abandoned Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill.
However, the caps will not apply to ELICOS vias applications, and it’s not clear how they might apply to onshore applications, such as when ELICOS students complete English lessons and then apply to go to university.
Politicians are increasingly hostile to immigration, both in Australia and overseas, and these changes should be seen in this light.
In essence there is growing pressure on governments to rein in immigration numbers. Limiting international student numbers is an easy way to dramatically cut migrant numbers (given the large numbers involved) and is relatively painless for governments (as international students don’t vote). Nevertheless, education is one of Australia’s biggest exports, and politicians go after it at the risk of damaging the economy.
Better pay for union members
Your union continues to seek improvements for members at a variety of colleges through the enterprise bargaining process. The IEU is currently bargaining at UOW College and WSU The College, and similar negotiations will soon commence at Taylors College Sydney, Navitas Skilled Futures, UTS College and UNSW College.
Enterprise bargaining typically secures superior pay and conditions to the underpinning award. Colleges with an enterprise agreement (EA), for example, often pay annual salaries over $100,000 (at the top of the scale), whereas the equivalent rate in the award is under $80,000 pa. Likewise with leave, the award provides only the bare minimum, while EAs often give leave entitlements (such as annual leave and sick leave) higher than this.
The Fair Work Act includes provisions for “good faith bargaining”, under which an employer can be compelled into bargaining for an agreement when it can be demonstrated most employees (or group of employees, such as teachers) want that to happen. To find out how that might work at your college, contact your union, the IEU.
However, the key to improving working conditions is building union membership. It’s not a coincidence that colleges with EAs also have higher union membership, and it’s well-documented that strong union workplaces mean higher pay and better conditions. All members have a part to play in increasing union membership and every member should set themselves the task of signing up at least one new member in the next few weeks. People can join on the website, and union fees are tax deductible.