Locals winners, foreigners likely losers in Australian budget

Fantastic news re student visa fee hikes - should be $3,000 to act as a disincentive for mostly subcontinent students coming here to study cert 3 cooking courses and the like

A big hike in student visas is an abominably ignorant and destructive policy suggestion and I am astounded that the otherwise bright folks at Grattan could have been so lazy. While proponents seem only to have degree-seeking students in mind, Australia also hosts many exchange and short term program students, coming through recriprocal and/or strategic partnerships with foreign universities, and typically students stay in homestays or dedicated student accommodation. A blunt force attempt to cross subsidise domestic renters will kill such student mobility. As for discouraging people really wanting to work, that is just bad social science too. When people will pay a small fortune to criminals to facilitate entry to the Australian labour market, even $2500 for a student visa will not be a disincentive. It will however send middle class learners from around the world to more amiable destinations. Economists should know better.