# Australian higher education funding and policy debates > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/australian-higher-education-funding-and-policy-debates > Updated: 2026-10-08T00:44:54.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. Discussions regarding the funding and structure of Australian higher education have centered on proposed reforms to student costs and international enrollment. In late September 2026, Dr. Mark Warburton proposed replacing the current Job-ready Graduates Package with a single annual student contribution of approximately $10,000 by 2028. This proposal seeks to address rising course fees, particularly in the humanities, and move away from a system where costs vary based on degree types. By October 2026, the focus shifted toward political proposals regarding international students. The Australian Coalition proposed capping international student commencements at 240,000 per year and reducing their share of higher education to below 25 per cent. The plan also includes abolishing the temporary graduate visa. Experts have warned these measures could create “a very significant hole” in university budgets, while university leadership noted growing anxiety among prospective students regarding the stability of their investment in Australian education. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-08: Coalition proposal to cut international student visas threatens university budgets The Australian Coalition proposes slashing international student commencements by 55,000 annually, a move experts warn will severely impact university budgets and sector stability. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coalition-proposal-to-cut-international-student-visas-threatens-university-budgets ### 2026-09-23: Australia higher education proposal suggests single annual student fee Dr. Mark Warburton has proposed replacing Australia’s Job-ready Graduates Package with a single $10,000 annual student contribution by 2028 to address rising university costs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-higher-education-proposal-suggests-single-annual-student-fee --- Cite as: Australian higher education funding and policy debates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/australian-higher-education-funding-and-policy-debates