Australian Opposition Pledges Cut to Foreign Student Numbers

Australia’s center-right opposition vowed to reduce the allocation of international students if it wins office next month, saying the move would ease pressure on the nation’s overstretched housing market.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Liberal-National coalition plans to introduce a percentage cap — expected to be about 25% — on new overseas student commencements at universities and other higher education institutions starting next year. The proposed reduction would limit annual commencements to about 240,000.