India-Australia Bilateral economic pact ‘shields’ Indian students from strict new migration policy

In light of Australia’s recent announcement of a new migration strategy, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement has emerged as a pivotal safeguard alleviating concerns for a large number of Indian students pursuing education down under. The Australian High Commissioner Phillip Green asserted that the commitments forged under the new AI-ECTA would remain intact and provide a buffer against new measures imposed on the influx of foreigners.

Green’s Statement

“Commitments agreed between India and Australia under the new AI-ECTA will be upheld under the new Migration Strategy,” stated High Commissioner Green underscoring the continuity of benefits for Indian graduates. “This means that Indian graduates will continue to be eligible to stay on a Temporary Graduate visa for two years for a bachelor’s degree, three years for completion of a Master’s degree, and four years for the completion of a Doctoral Degree (PhD), he said.

The AI-ECTA purview extends to former students, granting them the opportunity to stay in Australia based on their qualifications, High Commissioner Green emphasized the government’s welcoming stance towards high-quality students.

Welcoming High-Quality Students

“The government will continue to welcome high-quality students seeking out educational opportunities in Australia. I see no reason why the number of Indian students should not continue to grow The number of Indian students currently enrolled for studying in Australia is estimated to be around 120,770 (as per records of August 2023), making the Indian students the second largest cohort of foreign students in Australia.

Migration Review Strategy

Australian migration review while imposing no caps on the number of foreign students, has introduced new measures such as stricter English language requirements and restrictions on onshore visas hoping to maintain system integrity and increased scrutiny of high-risk student visa applications from the crux of strategy. The main focus behind Canberra’s migration review is to attract skilled workers which aligns with the needs of its economy under a consensus reached by the government, trade unions, and businesses. The government aims to slash the intake to 250,000.

Reasons and Rationale for Migration Strategy

Migration has climbed to record levels in Australia, adding pressure to housing and infrastructure woes. The lack and shortage of skilled workers is adding fuel to the fire. The previous government in Australia left the migration issue in tatters. Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O Neil commented and said that the system is badly broken, complex, slow inefficient, and in need of major reform.

A record 510,000 people came to Australia in the year June 2023, but the minister promised to bring back the numbers into control. The new policies will attract more of the workers Australia needs and help reduce the risk of exploitation for those who live, work, and study in the country, Ms O’Neil said.