A fresh debate over Australia’s international education sector has erupted after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson called for tougher English language standards for overseas students, while the country’s leading universities warned that higher student visa fees risk damaging Australia’s global competitiveness.
Hanson criticised universities for what she described as an overreliance on international student revenue, claiming Australian students were being disadvantaged in classrooms.
“Foreign students are flooding universities and Australian students are being forced to do group assignments with people who can’t speak English,” Hanson said.
“In many cases, one or two students must do all the work for the entire group or risk receiving a fail result.”
She argued that universities’ dependence on international student income was compromising the quality of education for domestic students and criticised the Albanese government’s approach to international education.
“It should be a simple requirement – if you arrive here to study, you must have a fluent level of English.”
Her comments come as Australia’s university sector raises concerns over the federal government’s decision to further increase international student visa application fees.
The Group of Eight (Go8), representing Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, said in a statement Australia already charges the highest student visa fees in the world, and the latest increase would further weaken the country’s appeal to international students.
“Australia already charges the highest student visa fees in the world. A further 25 per cent increase does not simply add to the cost of studying here – it entrenches Australia’s position as the most expensive destination for international students,” the Go8 said in a statement.
The organisation warned the increase comes as Australia faces growing competition from countries actively seeking to attract international students.
“At a time when countries in our region and in Europe are removing barriers and actively competing for top students, Australia is moving in the opposite direction by making entry more expensive and less attractive.”
International education contributes more than A$50 billion annually to the Australian economy and remains the nation’s largest services export.
Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said international students play a critical role far beyond their economic contribution.
“International students are much more than just an export industry. They are a core part of Australia’s future skilled workforce – particularly in areas of shortage like health, engineering and advanced technologies,” Thomson said.
“They are future nurses, engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs and business leaders. They strengthen our economy, our research capability, our workforce and our international relationships.”
Thomson warned Australia risks losing talented students to competing destinations such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Singapore if the country continues to become more expensive.
“The risk is not short term. If talented students choose Canada, the UK, Europe, Singapore or emerging destinations instead of Australia, those relationships, skills and research connections are lost for decades.”
“Australia cannot continue to claim it wants the world’s best and brightest while simultaneously making itself the world’s most expensive destination to enter.”
Australia’s migration system has become dramatically more expensive from 1 July, with the Department of Home Affairs updating its visa pricing table and raising several major primary applicant visa charges by 25 per cent, while some categories have almost tripled.
The Department’s own visa fees page states that visa costs “change from time to time” and that the amount payable depends on the date Home Affairs receives the application. It also warns that if a price increase occurs between lodgement and receipt, applicants must pay the new charge.
The current visa pricing table was updated at 12.27 am on 1 July 2026, with Home Affairs directing applicants to use the Visa Pricing Estimator to work out visa costs.
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