Who Cares About Debts When We Have International Students?

Source: Herald Sun
Dated: 7/10/09

INTERNATIONAL students are the key to paying off Australia's debt and caring for its ageing population, a leading demographer says.


Bernard Salt says the country should be embracing international students and encouraging them to stay on after they finish their degrees.

Only 20,000 of the 400,000 international students who are educated in Australia every year migrate here, he said. But that number needs to increase in order to counteract the growing number of baby boomers leaving the workforce and paying less tax.


"We are not likely to raise the tax rate substantially," Mr Salt said.


"So this means we need more people who can pay taxes, and they can only come from overseas."


A student migration program would not only help Australia pay off its massive debt incurred as a result of the global economic downturn but would also ensure a steady stream of skilled migrants.


"International students represent an outstanding source of skilled migrants - they're young, educated and keen to become Australians," Mr Salt said.


The reputation of Australia's $15.5 billion international education industry was damaged earlier this year following a series of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne.


An independent review of the sector is being carried out by former federal Liberal MP Bruce Baird.


Mr Salt, who will deliver his message to the Australian International Education Conference in Sydney next week, said the nation needed to lift its game if it was to compete in the highly competitive international student market.

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At least they're smart in getting the money in elsewhere rather than keep getting out of their own people!

We should learn!