Statement from ABDC President, Professor Noel Lindsay

The Australian Business Deans Council is calling on the Australian government to buck international trends and capitalise on the geographic, economic and social advantages that Australia offers international students.

“Australia should bolster its standing as an exporter of high-quality education while competitor countries, such as Canada, the UK, and the US are implementing tougher restrictions on international students in this time of global uncertainty” ABDC President, Professor Noel Lindsay says.

“Recent increases to visa fees and the thresholds imposed under Ministerial Direction 111 are undermining desirable goals for a sustainable and diverse international education export sector.

“Continual changes to international education policy and the lack of a cohesive, positive vision for the sector are also eroding trust in Australia as a desirable international education destination.”

Business schools account for 28.4% of new international enrolments in 2025, showing the substantial contribution that business education makes in the sector overall and as a valuable source of cross-institutional funding for higher education institutions.

“High visa fees frustrate business schools in their efforts to diversify international student enrolments from a greater range of source countries, privileging the wealthiest international students. Once in Australia, international students spend more on goods and services than other Australians, contribute to the labour force, and to cross-cultural exchange in their universities” Professor Lindsay says.

In this new term of parliament, the finalisation of the International Education and Skills Strategic Framework should be prioritised. The ABDC looks forward to working with the government and sector stakeholders to realise a sustainable and clear vision for the international education sector.

Further information: contact ABDC Executive Officer, Caroline Falshaw, +61 414 488 852, office@abdc.edu.au.