“Australia is a world-leading provider of international education, attracting tens of thousands of students to our campuses each year,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Catriona Jackson said.

“These students make our nation stronger, both socially and economically. They bring new skills and knowledge and prior to the pandemic, education added $41 billion to our economy.

“It is our largest services export and the biggest one we don’t dig out of the ground, helping pay for the essential services all Australians rely on.

“That’s why it’s essential that we protect the integrity of this national asset – for the benefit of our universities, our students and the nation.

“We welcome the government’s action, which we have called for, to crack down on dodgy and unscrupulous operators seeking to exploit students for personal gain.

“These measures put students first, which is where they belong.

“It’s important that students who come to Australia for university receive the full benefits of the world-class education they need and deserve.

“This is what sets them up for a fulfilling and rewarding career, here or back home.

“We’ll continue to work closely with government to ensure processes are as thorough and robust as possible to maintain the integrity of our systems.”