By Roger Maynard, Australia Correspondent

SYDNEY: Australia is to crack down on unscrupulous foreign agents who promise visas to overseas students as part of dubious education packages.

Though data was not readily available, it is believed that the situation has worsened in recent years, as the Australian education industry becomes increasingly numbers-driven.

Now, Immigration Minister Chris Evans has pledged to widen Australia's legislative powers in order to tackle the issue. This could mean overseas agents being more closely monitored and governments in other countries being asked to take action against offenders.

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