Are international students subsidising the education of domestic students in Australian universities – or is it the other way around? Why does Australia have quite so many international students anyway? Does China post a real risk to academic freedom in Australia? And how might Australia’s universities be reformed? In this wide-ranging interview about his recent book Australia’s Universities: Can They Reform? James talked to Salvatore Babones about all these issues, and about what lessons there might be for our universities in New Zealand.