hta writes to rudd over education export policy

The Hospitality Training Association (HTA) has launched a national campaign to reverse federal and state policies which it believes are threatening the country's $16 billion international education export industry.

Not only has the association mustered the support of the nation's leading education and tourism organisations - including ACPET - it has also written to the Federal Government requesting urgent attention.

HTA CEO Phillip Charlton says the decisions are compromising the country's third largest export industry, thousands of Australian jobs and damaging the capacity to resolve the short and long term skills shortages.

As one of Australia's largest hospitality vocational educational training providers, HTA's main concern is the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's decision to change student visa requirements.

According to the HTA, this saw 7,500 student visas declined in the first quarter alone, resulting in a loss of Australian jobs.

As a flow-on effect, it says this would result in a substantial decline in tourism income due to a lack of family visitation.

Other concerns relate to the government's 'failure' to acknowledge international education is separate to immigration, implications from the Baird Report and lack of cooperation between government departments.

'GOOD BUSINESSES WILL FAIL': ACPET

The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) agrees the Federal Government's changes to the assessment levels for international students will hinder Australia's most innovative international education institutions.

CEO Andrew Smith says the "blunt withdrawal" of opportunities for international students to package courses and embark on long-term study in Australia will cause serious contraction in the sector.

He has requested the Government to defer the changes pending discussion with the international education sector.

"With inadequate consultation, the Federal Government has announced changes that show an uncharacteristic disregard for the concerns of one of Australia's largest export industries and the 125,000 people it employs."

According to Smith, dedicated people will lose their jobs and good businesses will fail because of the changes.

"I now ask the government to defer these changes, sit down with ACPET and other industry representatives as we have requested, and analyse the consequences and alternatives to these changes," he adds.