The Albanese government is facing growing pressure to deport international students linked to “ghost colleges” following a major crackdown on fraudulent vocational education providers.
Last week, the government announced the closure of over 150 dormant vocational education and training (VET) providers that failed to demonstrate any training activity for over a year. Another 140 were issued warning notices by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), demanding they improve their training quality by the end of 2024 or risk deregistration.
Skills and Training Minister Andrew Giles defended the crackdown, emphasising the government’s commitment to addressing systemic issues in the VET sector that plagued previous administrations.
“We’ve shut down over 150 dormant operators and issued warnings to 140 more,” he stated. However, concerns persist about what happens next for those involved in mass fraud.
News.com.au contributor Tarric Brooker and Macro Business co-founder Leith van Onselen have both questioned whether the operators of these ghost colleges and the thousands of students who secured visas fraudulently will face adequate consequences.
Migration expert Dr. Abul Rizvi highlighted the challenge of tracking and deporting students who have breached visa conditions. Despite the government’s additional funding for immigration compliance, Rizvi doubts whether resources are sufficient to handle the vast scale of visa exploitation. Melanie Macfarlane of MM Migration and Recruitment called for stricter barriers to prevent new ghost colleges from emerging and criticised the slow pace of action.
The crackdown on fake VET providers has already led to a spike in onshore refugee applications, complicating the immigration landscape further.
Education Minister Jason Clare’s reforms aim to close loopholes and ensure high-quality education, but the impact on international student numbers and the broader sector remains a contentious issue.
