Thanks not just ALP but also the Coalition for this. This is going to be a significant assurance to the Indian students that their post study work rights are assured irrespective of the noise being made by one extreme right politician.

Today Indian Students are thanking not just Minister Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs under the current ALP Government but also former Minister Dan Tehan, Minister for Trade under the former Liberals-Nationals coalition government and of course deft negotiators from Indian Government led by Minister Piyush Goel, Minister for Commerce.

Tony Burke was asked directly at the National Press Club whether the extra post-study work rights available to Indian graduates under Australia’s trade agreement with India were now at risk.

His answer was clear:

“We are working within all free trade agreements in everything that I’ve said.”

Burke said migration concessions negotiated through trade agreements were given in return for wider benefits to Australian jobs and the economy, adding: “We’re not about to undermine that.”

That could prove particularly important for Indian students weighing Australia against other study destinations. And it stands guaranteed by not just the ALP but also the opposition Coalition.

Sharing the exact letter with details here…