October 23, 2018 International education strategy lacking funding and vision The McGowan Government’s 32-page International Education Strategy lacks the funding and vision to grow Western Australia’s dismal share of the lucrative international student market. Opposition Leader Mike Nahan said the Government was doing too little too late after overseeing a reduction in international student enrolments of 8 per cent over the past 12 months. “The strategy is a $2 million plan for a plan,” Dr Nahan said. “It lacks detail and has no specific policy commitments that will translate into more students coming to WA to study. “Committing $2 million over five years is insufficient from the McGowan Government, particularly when there is a significant return on investment for every student that comes to WA to study. “The McGowan Government is putting as much money into attracting international students as they are towards a 25 metre indoor pool and clubrooms in the marginal seat of Collie. “That shows the regard the McGowan Government has for attracting international students and the value they bring to the economy. “The release of their strategy comes after a series of policies aimed at deterring international students from studying in WA, and instead choosing other Australian states to study. Shadow Tourism Minister Libby Mettam said international students were invaluable to tourism in WA, but the Government’s policy settings sent a message to students to bypass Perth. “The McGowan Government’s decision to drastically reduce the WA skilled migration list has cost the WA economy hundreds of millions of dollars in lost student enrolments and associated tourist visits,” Ms Mettam said. “For every one international student that comes to WA, there is, on average, another five visits from family and friends, and for every three international students studying here, one job is created. “Every other state has been capitalising on the $20 billion international student industry, while the McGowan Government has spent the past eighteen months undermining it in WA. “International students and the tourists that come to visit them are now bypassing WA and heading to the competing states of South Australia and Tasmania, where international student numbers are booming.” Facts: · There has been a 12% reduction in international student enrolments in Western Australia over the past 12 months, with commencements falling from 15,803 in 2017 to 14,506 in 2018. · Study Perth has estimated that more than 9,800 jobs were created as a result of the 49,000 or so international students choosing to study in our State last year. In addition, the students spend significantly on items including transport, housing and entertainment and on average, host 1.4 million visitors to our State during the course of their studies, further boosting to the State’s economy · Based on these figures alone the impact of a reduction of 1300 students has removed 260 jobs from the local economy and will see 36,400 less visitors to the state over the period they would have been here studying. · Further, according to the ABS there were 685,000 International Students last year who contributed $28 billion to the Australian economy, equating to approx. $40,000 per student per year. The economic impact for WA of 1300 less students is therefore approx. $52 million – $52 million less coming into the State that would support employment the business community at a time when they could surely use a boost. Ends |
