Moved by Councillor Chan, seconded by
Councillor Kok –
It is resolved that:
(A) Council note:
(i)
NSW is
home to the most international students in Australia;
(ii)
unlike domestic
tertiary students in NSW, international tertiary students are not eligible for
travel concessions, except for recipients of Commonwealth scholarship programs;
(iii)
NSW is
the only Australian state or territory that does not offer any form of
concession or discounted public transport to international students, despite
undertaking full-time study;
(iv)
in
October 2023, public transport Opal fares increased by an average of 3.7
percent. Currently, the adult weekly travel cap at $50 is double the concession
cap at $25;
(v)
the
international education sector contributed more than $11.4 billion to the NSW
economy in 2020. Extending the public transport concession program to
international students would cost the NSW Government significantly less;
(vi)
approximately,
40 percent of all education providers in NSW are located in the City of Sydney.
This includes over 550 education establishments such as universities,
vocational and educational training providers, and English language intensive
courses for international students;
(vii)
the
majority of students who opt to study part-time are
women, carers, and people with disabilities;
(viii)
in
2020, a research study conducted by the University of Sydney (USyd) showed that
more than 90 percent of its students live off-campus. The escalating costs of
living and housing expenses have caused further financial burdens to students,
forcing many to reside further away from campuses;
(ix)
on 27
July 2023, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Transport requesting an
investigation into implementing travel incentives for international students so
they can fully participate in their Sydney experience. Disappointingly, the
Minister responded confirming that an extension of the concession travel to
international students was not being considered by Transport for NSW; and
(x)
in
March 2024, a petition launched by the USyd’s Students’ Representative Council
and the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association to ‘Make
transport concessions available to all students in NSW’ had received over
21,000 signatures and is currently being tabled in NSW Parliament. It will be
debated in the NSW Legislative Assembly on 9 May 2024;
(B)
Council
endorse the petition to make transport concessions available to all students in
NSW; and
(C)
the
Lord Mayor be requested to write again to the Minister of Transport requesting
that the necessary regulatory changes are made so that international and
part-time tertiary students are eligible for public transport concessions in
line with other Australian states and territories.
The motion was carried on the following show
of hands –
Ayes (8) The Chair (the Lord
Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Ellsmore, Kok, Scott, Weldon and Worling
Noes (2) Councillors Gannon and
Jarrett.
Carried.
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