Clare O’Neil won’t rule out international student cap as part of visa crackdown

Home affairs minister insists forecasts showing 185,000 fewer people will migrate to Australia are an estimate, not a ‘target’

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The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has not ruled out a cap on international students but declared she is “confident” new measures have caught the “problem” of student visas being used as a back door into Australia in time to reduce net overseas migration.

On Monday O’Neil insisted the government does not have a “target” for net overseas migration because some elements, such as people leaving Australia, are not within its control but promised it will show “vigilance” to achieve a reduction. It is forecasting nearly 185,000 fewer people over five years as a result of its policies.

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