Australian Senator Malcolm Roberts has strongly criticised the Albanese government for failing to take action against foreign students, many from India, who allegedly used “purchased” or fake university degrees to study and work in Australia. His post on X came after recent developments in India, where Kerala Police uncovered a massive fake certificate racket involving forged university degrees.

Fake degree network uncovered in India

Kerala Police recently dismantled a sprawling network that produced and distributed fake university certificates, including foreign degrees. Authorities arrested 11 individuals from multiple Indian states and said the racket may have supplied fraudulent certificates to more than 10 lakh people across India. Investigators revealed that a previously arrested offender had rebuilt the scam network, which allegedly catered to people seeking jobs and education opportunities abroad.

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Senator Roberts links scam to Australia’s student visa system

Senator Roberts linked the scam to what he claims is a serious failure in Australia’s student visa enforcement. Roberts wrote: “Police in India have allegedly seized 100,000 forged certificates from 22 universities, with 1 million plus likely used for jobs abroad.” He added that he had raised similar concerns months earlier in Australia. “I warned about this in August (and asked questions during October Estimates) — 23,000 foreign students in Australia were found with ‘purchased’ degrees, many in aged care and early childhood.

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Roberts said these cases represent a clear violation of Australian visa conditions and accused the government of refusing to act. “I asked Minister Watt if he’d deport those who committed this fraud. All I got was waffling and gaslighting,” he said. “The Albanese Government is refusing to act, even though these are clear visa breaches.”

Roberts has repeatedly claimed that in 2024 alone, around 23,000 foreign students were found to have obtained qualifications from deregistered or fraudulent education providers, including SPES Education.

According to Roberts, many of the students with questionable qualifications were working in sensitive sectors such as aged care and early childhood education, raising concerns about safety, skills, and public trust. He warned that allowing such practices undermines Australia’s education system and harms local workers.

Call for deportation

In 2024, the senator argued that purchasing fake qualifications breaches Section 8202 of Australia’s visa conditions, which requires international students to genuinely study and acquire skills. “This defeats the entire purpose of studying in Australia—which is to support the Australian education industry while acquiring real skills,” Roberts said in his blog.

He called for strict penalties, including visa cancellation and deportation. “The penalty for such a serious breach of trust with the Australian people must be the cancellation of the individual’s visa and deportation, along with any family members they were permitted to bring with them.”

Roberts accused the government of avoiding responsibility when questioned in Parliament. “Listen closely to the gaslighting, the waffle and the ‘backslapping’all to avoid admitting that the Albanese Government has no intention of deporting these illegal students.”