International student flights to SA on hold while PM, states work on COVID-19 hot spot model
A plan to bring 300 international students back to SA to revive the $2.2bn sector is not likely to go ahead this month as the PM focuses his attention on internal border squabbles.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A plan to bring 300 international students back to South Australia to revive the $2.2bn sector is unlikely to go ahead this month.
Scott Morrison wants to work with states further on a road map for reopening Australia by December and a “hot spot” model for travel restrictions, instead of border closures, before finalising details for the trial.
The Prime Minister is unlikely to consider giving the pilot the green light until late next week at the earliest, when the next national cabinet is held, according to Federal Government sources.
Flights to bring up to 300 students back to Adelaide via Singapore had been slated to happen in September.
But the delay in the trial’s approval means it is increasingly unlikely to go ahead this month.
A cap on international arrivals had been a sticking point before last week’s national cabinet, due to concerns it was making it difficult for Australians stuck overseas to get home.
States stopped short of lifting the caps at last Friday’s meeting but did agree to try to get more Aussies home on flights into Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin and even Tasmania instead of Sydney, which has been taking most of the arrivals.
Education Minister Dan Tehan said the Federal Government was continuing to work with the State Government to “finalise the details of the pilot”.
“State premiers are expected to ensure that no international students take the place of Australians returning from overseas,” he said.
Polls have shown most South Australians don’t back the trial while loved ones are unable to get home from interstate or overseas.
But State Trade Minister Stephen Patterson said SA was working hard to get the sector “back on track” because for every four international students enrolled in SA, one job was created.
He welcomed new figures showing the sector – worth about $2.2bn to SA before COVID-19 – grew 18.6 per cent in the year to December 2019.
A State Government spokeswoman said SA was “committed to the student pilot” and was just waiting for the green light from the Commonwealth.
Australia’s $39bn international education sector fears it will lose market share to Canada and Britain if it does not prove “secure corridors” are viable for students to come to Australia to study next year.
StudyAdelaide boss Karyn Kent said demand for international education remained strong despite COVID-19.