Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bilyk, who, along with many of my colleagues, has had a lifelong interest in and support for education in our country. So thank you, Senator Bilyk, for your question. You'll remember that, back in May, the Albanese Labor government introduced legislation to limit the number of international students that can come to Australia. We took this responsible action to return the number of international students to a sustainable level and to encourage universities to develop new student housing.

I want to make clear: we value our international education industry and we value the contribution of migrants to Australia, but we've also heard the message from the Australian people that they do want migration to come down to a sustainable level. That's why we've taken a number of steps, which, already, are bringing our migration levels down.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

These include implementing managed growth for the international education sector. But, this week, what do you know? We learned that the 'no-alition' is back, with the Liberals and the Nationals again teaming up with the Greens to block our legislation in the Senate. Having spent months demanding that migration be cut, Mr Dutton recklessly tears up a bipartisan approach to cap international student numbers, simply to play politics—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

just like, having spent the whole term demanding more homes, he teams up with the Greens to block every step we take to build more homes.

In fact, Mr Dutton is so addicted to saying no, he's now even saying no to himself—because, remember: in his budget reply speech back in May, Mr Dutton told us that he would drastically reduce net overseas migration by, among other things, capping international student numbers. And now he votes against his own idea! In fact, more than six months later, they still have no ideas about how they will deliver their promise to reduce net overseas migration. As each day goes by, Mr Dutton proves why he is not fit to lead this country. He's reckless, he's arrogant, and, at a time people are doing it tough, he'll make things worse.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Bilyk. And don't they get touchy when we talk about the shonks in the international education system! Is that the sound of cashie-cashie over there? I'm not sure—and I don't mean you, Senator Cash; I mean cashie-cashie.

The Albanese Labor government has been working hard to address the serious quality and integrity issues we inherited in the education sector. The Parkinson review highlighted that the migration system we inherited from Mr Dutton was broken, and Christine Nixon's report revealed disturbing weaknesses in the system that flourished under the opposition's neglect. These included grotesque abuses of temporary workers and international students by organised crime groups—all on Mr Dutton's watch as home affairs minister.

Now, we've already taken steps to address some of these issues, and student caps are an important next step to deliver critical reforms to address these wrongs. Our legislation includes a range of sensible and vital measures to protect the safety of international students and protect the reputation of this important industry. But, again, the 'no-alition' is back—the Liberals, Nationals and Greens teaming up to block our sensible measures. (Time expired)

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Bilyk—you're right. In his budget reply, Mr Dutton did say he would work with universities to set a cap on foreign students, and he has been saying that month after month after month. He has been saying, 'We need to set a cap on international students, we need to bring migration levels down,' but what do you know? We get to the second last week of the year and he says, 'no,' because the only thing he can say is 'no'. It doesn't matter what it is—if it's cost-of-living relief, it's 'no'. If it's housing, it's 'no'. If it's caps on migration, it's 'no'. If it's caps on international student numbers, it's 'no'. Every time, it doesn't matter what the measure is, he says 'no' because he is reckless and arrogant and Australian people are starting to work him out.

At a time when Australians are doing it so tough, all Mr Dutton can offer is 'no' and no solutions. He wants to make things worse, even if it means contradicting the very same things that he has been going on about for months. We know that regional universities in particular want to see these changes made, and all those people over there who like put their RMs on and get out in the regions—go and explain that decision. It's people like you two in particular. (Time expired)