“International students seeking a world-class education at our universities deserve nothing less,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.

“These latest steps the government is taking will help protect students from unscrupulous operators seeking to exploit them for personal gain. Enough is enough.

“We are fully supportive of the government’s focus on putting students first – that’s where they belong.

“Universities have called for action in this space and the enhanced monitoring and compliance measures announced today send a firm message to dodgy agents that we are cracking down.

“We welcome students from more than 140 countries and it’s important that they receive the full benefits of the world-class education they need and deserve.

“These students bring new perspectives, knowledge and skills – making our nation stronger socially and contributing tens of billions of dollars to our economy.

“Our international education sector is a national asset worth protecting and we’ll continue to work closely with government to ensure it continues to deliver for students and the nation.”