Amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 have been named a key legislative priority for the Australian Government in the 2025–26 parliamentary term, as part of broader efforts to safeguard the integrity of the international education sector.
The proposed changes were detailed in the Government’s newly released education reform blueprint, Building a Better and Fairer Education System, unveiled by Education Minister Jason Clare on Wednesday. The plan outlines a comprehensive legislative agenda that includes high-profile election promises such as reducing HECS debt for domestic students and introducing Commonwealth Prac Payments for teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work students.
Crucially, the document places a renewed focus on strengthening oversight of international education, stating the Government will pursue amendments to the ESOS Act to “combat the exploitation of overseas students and address behaviours which seek to exploit the migration system.”
The move follows the failure of the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, which was blocked in the Senate earlier this year by a coalition of opposition and Greens senators. That bill included controversial provisions around student enrolment caps, which sparked significant backlash from the international education sector over a perceived lack of consultation.
In a marked shift, the Government has now signalled a more collaborative approach. “The Government will continue engaging with the sector to shape future policy and regulatory settings, supporting a long-term strategy developed in consultation with stakeholders,” the report states.
There are also growing indications that the Government will no longer seek to impose enrolment caps through the ESOS Act. Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill has previously floated alternative mechanisms, such as mission-based compacts for public universities, as potential tools for managing international student numbers.
The reform agenda also reaffirms the Government’s commitment to maintaining Ministerial Direction 111—introduced in 2024 to refocus the system on genuine students and high-quality providers. The document describes the direction as successful in restoring sustainable international student numbers.
The Government’s renewed focus on international education regulation comes amid growing scrutiny of student visa misuse and provider practices. Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the revised ESOS reforms will strike the right balance between integrity and the sector’s long-term growth.
