By Zac de Silva in Canberra

Universities and academics have blasted the coalition’s plan to cut Australia’s migrant intake, warning it would hurt the economy and cost jobs.

The opposition is promising one of the biggest cuts to migration in Australian history, and Nationals leader Matt Canavan has described the nation’s current intake of international students as a “scam”.

But the universities sector, which relies heavily on foreign students who can be charged much higher fees, said any cuts to immigration would have major consequences.

“Significant cuts to international student numbers would have real consequences for the economy and our universities at a time both are doing it tough,” Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said in a statement.

“Australia cannot afford another race to the bottom driven by stop-start policy settings, political signalling or measures that damage our economy, our universities and our global reputation.”

Under the coalition’s plan, Australia’s migrant intake would be capped at the number of homes completed in the previous year.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has refused to put an exact figure on his preferred net overseas migration rate until closer to the election, but based on the most recent data, the plan would cut immigration by about 40 per cent.

Senator Canavan declared the current student visa system was ripe for reform, arguing far too many foreigners were studying at Australian universities.

“It’s a total scam at the moment. I mean, it’s just ridiculous,” he told ABC Radio National.

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t have foreign students, we’ve always done that, but the principal role of an Australian university should be to teach Australian students.”

Senator Canavan claimed many foreign students were not coming to Australia to learn – they were using their studies as a pathway to citizenship.

The National Tertiary Education Union, which represents academics around the country, warned any cut to migration would hurt universities and their staff.

“Fewer international students won’t fix the housing crisis,” national president Alison Barnes said.

“More often than not, they’re living in accommodation like extra bedrooms, on campuses or other rooms that locals don’t want to or can’t live in.”

Dr Barnes said university executives would use any cut to student numbers as an excuse to axe jobs, and called for more detailed policy from the opposition on higher education.

“Sadly, the opposition leader is more interested in aping Pauline Hanson than setting out a vision for higher education,” she said.

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