Luke Sheehy, chief executive of Universities Australia, expresses deep concern over Labor's planned migration overhaul, warning that reducing the number of international students would cause "lasting damage" to the country’s university sector. The proposed changes may include a ban on international students bringing family members to Australia and could narrow the funding available for universities relying heavily on overseas student revenue. Alan Gamlen, an immigration expert from ANU's Migration Hub, argues that setting a net migration target is ineffective because it includes Australian citizens and permanent residents whose movements are unpredictable.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
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Story summary
Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy expressed deep concern about potential changes to Australia's net overseas migration (NOM) numbers, particularly any moves to reduce the number of international students. He warned that such a reduction would cause "lasting damage" to Australia’s university sector. An immigration expert from ANU, Professor Alan Gamlen, criticized the debate around NOM targets as "numerical theatre about the wrong number," arguing it should instead focus on addressing temporary migration. Currently, two-thirds of Australia's NOM figure of 306,000 is made up of temporary visa holders like working holiday makers and students. Labor’s proposal to limit NOM to 225,000 by 2028 was described as a pointless exercise that would lead to government mistrust if targets were not met.
Written for “Migration Overhaul Concerns” on 2026-09-17,
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Leaning score -0.45 for article 14604 (medium confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-17
Universities Australia boss 'deeply worried' about migration overhaul
Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy says any move to cut the number of international students will do "lasting damage" to Australia's university sector.
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Migration target 'bad idea', says expert
An immigration expert has told the ABC political debate about net overseas migration is "numerical theatre about the wrong number" as he urges policy makers to focus on addressing temporary migration instead.
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he → submit → migration
Australia's net overseas migration number, or NOM, measures all migrant arrivals minus all migrant departures, with two thirds of the current 306,000 figure comprised of temporary visa holders like working holiday makers and students.
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thirds → measure → makers
Professor Alan Gamlen from ANU's Migration Hub says Labor's plan to limit the NOM to 225,000 by 2028 would be a pointless exercise.
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plan → say → 2028
"I would say having a net migration target is a bad idea.
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having → say → target
If you have a target its always going to be missed," he said.
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he → have → target
"Missing those targets leads to a lack of confidence in the government to control migration, which is what happened in the UK before Brexit.
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what → miss → Brexit
While Labor's plan appears largely focused on regulating temporary visas holders like students and backpackers, Gamlen says the NOM also accounts for Australian citizens and permanent residents, whose movements can't be controlled.
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movements → appear → citizens
"Other countries to who we compare ourselves have abandoned this idea a long time ago.
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we → compare → idea
Canada targets just temporary migration.
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Canada → target → migration
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Universities Australia worried migration overhaul will do 'lasting damage' to sector
Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy says he's "deeply worried" about Labor's upcoming overhaul of migration.
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he → worry → migration
The home affairs minister will announce an overhaul of migration at the National Press Club today, six weeks after it was abruptly postponed.
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it → announce → Club
The ABC understands the announcement could include an effective ban on international students bringing family members to Australia.
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But Sheehy has told ABC News Breakfast any move to cut international students leave universities with a funding gap.
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move → tell → gap
The chief executive says successive governments have for decades encourage universities to attract international students.
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He says the universities sector relies on skilled researchers, half of which he says come from overseas.
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he → say → which
"I'm going to look at the detail but the question is fewer international students means a bigger gap in how we fund our world class university system.
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we → go → system
And the next question for the government is, are you going to step up and pay for it?" Sheehy says.
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"I think is this going to do lasting damage.
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this → think → damage
We've already seen the world's highest visa application fees.
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We're sending the wrong signals at a time when international students can help turbocharge not only our universities the way we operate, but our skills base for the future.
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we → send → future
It's great to have you join us early this Thursday morning.
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I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, here and ready to bring you all of today's federal politics news.
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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is expected to outline the government's much-anticipated overhaul to migration at the National Press Club today.
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Burke → expect → Club
We expect Burke's announcement will target families of international students seeking to come to Australia.
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announcement → expect → Australia
Let's get this show on the road and see what the final sitting day of the sitting fortnight brings us!
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