Thursday, 14 May 2026
The MGA has prepared a statement in response to Tuesday’s Federal Budget announcement, outlining its impact on graduate students and advocating for stronger support measures for the gradaute student community.
Thursday, 16 April 2026
We received an official response from Hon Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for International Education regarding the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) application fee increase. Read the letter here.
March 2026
We have been actively lobbying senior government figures to reverse the decision to increase the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa application fee, including direct engagement with key ministers and Members of Parliament.
- Prime Minister, Anthony Alabnese
- Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke
- Minister for Education, Jason Clare
- Assistant Minister for International Education, Julian Hill
- Member for Melbourne, Sarah Witty
- Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns
- Member for Hotham, Clare O'Neil
- Member for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea
In addition to our lobbying efforts, we also developed a detailed policy briefing outlining the key flaws in the Government's decision to increase the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa application fee.
Furthermore, we launched a parliamentary petition calling for the expansion of public transport concession entitlements to graduate students through the Parliament of Victoria.
Friday, 6 March 2026
We published a statement on Instagram opposing the doubling of the 485 Graduate Visa application fee increase.
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
We made a submission to Monash's Graduate Research Committee reviewing parental leave policies for RTP stipend recipients.
February 2026
In February 2026, the MGA made a submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Enhancing Victorian University Governance, arguing that graduate research and coursework students must have dedicated seats at the table alongside undergraduates.
The submission draws on MGA's national survey data and a sector-wide analysis of university council compositions to show that current governance structures -- which typically provide just one student seat -- are no longer fit for purpose given the size and diversity of the modern student body.
Graduate coursework enrolments have more than doubled over the past two decades, and graduate research students occupy a unique position as both students and contributors to university research and teaching. Yet, no Victorian university currently offers more than one student seat on its council.
MGA recommends three dedicated student council positions -- one each for undergraduate, graduate coursework, and graduate research students -- along with mechanisms to ensure student representatives can meaningfully contribute to council agendas and regular stakeholder feedback processes to strengthen accountability.
Read our submission here.