Australia’s academic union, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), has recently demanded federal government protection from what they describe as a “cruel and unfair attack” on university staff. This comes after Universities Australia (UA) warned that changes to visa policies could potentially result in the loss of one in 10 jobs within the sector.
According to UA chief executive Luke Sheehy, there has been a 23 per cent reduction in the issuance of student visas over the past year, resulting in 59,410 fewer university students. This decline in international student numbers could have significant economic repercussions, with a projected A$4.3 billion hit to the economy and the potential loss of over 14,000 jobs within the university sector alone.
The NTEU has accused UA of using the threat of job cuts as a bargaining tool against the government. NTEU president Alison Barnes expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding international education changes, which has allowed university leaders to consider job losses as a possible solution. She emphasized the need for the federal government to intervene and prevent damaging cuts that could negatively impact students, staff, and society as a whole.
The potential loss of 14,000 staff members would equate to 10 per cent of the university workforce, which is estimated to be around 131,470 full-time equivalent staff members. While the exact number of staff members is difficult to determine due to inconsistencies in counting casual academics, the impact of such a significant reduction in staff could be devastating for the sector.
UA’s job loss prediction is not intended as a threat but rather as a warning of the potential consequences of the government’s policy changes. The organization emphasized that it does not have control over employment decisions, which are managed at the institutional level. The focus is on highlighting the possible outcomes of the visa policy reforms and advocating for support to mitigate any negative effects.
Migration expert Abul Rizvi has suggested that predictions of declining student numbers may have been exaggerated, as the record student arrivals during the Covid pandemic were not sustainable once borders reopened. This perspective challenges the severity of the projected job losses and raises questions about the accuracy of the estimates.
NTEU policy and research officer Kieran McCarron highlighted the risks faced by university staff due to inflated predictions of enrolment declines. He pointed out that university managements tend to take preemptive measures to cut costs, often targeting insecure workers first. This practice could lead to job losses even before the full impact of declining student numbers is felt.
Furthermore, the NTEU’s director of public policy and strategic research, Terri MacDonald, raised concerns about the potential use of declining enrolments as leverage to drive down wages, particularly in subsidiary companies associated with universities. This tactic could further exacerbate the challenges faced by university staff and contribute to a more precarious work environment within the sector.
In conclusion, the ongoing debate surrounding visa policy changes and their potential impact on the university sector highlights the need for government intervention to protect staff and ensure the sustainability of the education system. The collaboration between academic unions, representative bodies, and policymakers is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by universities and safeguarding the interests of students and staff members alike.