The Australian government might replace Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) with Genuine Student Test. The current requirement, known as the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement, in which international students must submit a 300-word statement outlining their intent to study in Australia to establish their status as “genuine temporary entrants.” However, applications explicitly mentioning a wish to remain in Australia are automatically rejected.
The policy has been criticized by the education sector, which says it has discouraged many high-value international students from applying to study in Australia. The new policy will focus on assessing the student’s academic and financial capacity to study in Australia, as well as their English language skills. It will not ask students about their migration plans.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the change is in line with the government’s commitment to attracting and retaining the best and brightest international students. “We want to make sure that Australia is open to the best and brightest international students, regardless of their migration intentions,” she said. The aim is to create a nation where individuals possess equal rights and a mutual interest in national success. O’Neil emphasized the importance of retaining high-achieving students with the skills that Australia needs.
Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, welcomed the change, saying it is a “welcome step” that will make it easier for high-value international students to study in Australia. “Too many genuine student applicants have been denied entry merely for being honest about what they hoped to achieve when they graduated with a world-class Australian qualification,” he said.
Due to this policy shift, Labor’s immigration spokesperson, Dan Tehan, expressed his concerns about the housing supply issues and strain government services due to an influx of migrants. He highlighted that Labor’s proposed plans could result in around 1.5 million arrivals over five years, without a clear housing and resource management strategy in place.
A recent review of the migration system released in March indicated that international students were not fully utilizing their potential in the job market after graduation due to the existing migration settings. This hampers Australia’s ability to retain top talent.
Recent reports also revealed that the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency cautioned educational institutions about the risk of admitting large numbers of international students who might not be qualified for their chosen courses and may not have genuine intentions to study.
Clare O’Neil is anticipated to unveil the Albanese government’s comprehensive migration strategy by the end of the year and has chosen not to comment on the recent changes at this time.
