“We simply underestimated how many students would flow back into our universities and higher education sectors.”
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Why does Treasury estimate immigration numbers.
If they, along with Home Affairs manage immigration shouldn’t they issue a set number of visas and stop issuing visas once the cap is met?
Who exactly is in charge of immigration in terms of issuing and capping visas? There might be a paper cap but in practice there are no controls at all.
It doesn’t seem very well organised to me.
Committee on 6/11/2024
Item: Economics Legislation Committee – 06/11/2024 – Estimates – TREASURY PORTFOLIO – Department of the Treasury
Senator RENNICK: Last time I note you said that Treasury significantly underestimated the recovery in temporary visa holders to the order of nearly 25 per cent. We simply underestimated how many students would flow back into our universities and higher education sector. Why would you need to estimate this figure? Wouldn’t you talk to Home Affairs and the Immigration Department as to how many visas are issued and then, in terms of immigration, how many people have arrived and how many people are yet to arrive?
Dr Kennedy: It’s definitely partly that. Part of our underestimation, if you like, with Home Affairs is to get to your pipeline, how many people applied? Initially post COVID, when we were talking to the universities, they were very worried about students returning to Australia and what the numbers would look like. You might remember that debate they were having at the time.
Senator RENNICK: Yes.
Dr Kennedy: So, we took that seriously. The surprise, if you like, flowed all the way through the system; many more people applied for visas, more were granted, more came in and—
Senator RENNICK: Sorry. I am short on time. Do you get a monthly report from Home Affairs and the Immigration Department as to how many visas are issued, how many arrivals arrive and how many departures go?
Dr Kennedy: We do get monthly reports.
Mr Yeaman: We get regular updates from Home Affairs on how those visas are tracking.
Senator RENNICK: I’ll finish up on that one.
