SA unis welcome international student quarantine hub at Parafield Airport

SA’s unis have hailed a quarantine hub for international students, but Labor has questioned the “inconsistency” of the move.

Universities have welcomed South Australia’s plan for a dedicated quarantine facility for international students as a “pivotal” step to revive the $2 billion sector.

Australia’s peak international education body also says the move could secure SA a bigger slice of the national market, which was worth $40bn before the pandemic.

But State Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas has criticised the “inconsistency” of establishing a quarantine site at Parafield Airport for international students when his proposal for a facility for returning Australians was shot down.

At least 160 students would be able to quarantine at the airport-based Flight Training Adelaide school under the SA plan submitted to Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge on Friday night.

The students will isolate in bungalows at the flight school surrounded by fenced-off lawn, as reported by The Advertiser on Sunday.

Flight Training Adelaide, Parafield Airport, which has been earmarked as a possible location for a new international students hub. Picture: Dean Martin

Flinders University vice president international Sebastian Raneskold said an international student arrival plan was “pivotal” for the “critically important” sector.

He said the university was confident in the state government’s process for selecting a suitable location for students to quarantine safely.

An Adelaide University spokesman said it was “critical” for the state’s future that its top export industry was able to thrive again by bringing students back “in a safe and responsible manner”.

“We acknowledge the extreme care the State Government has taken to protect South Australians and accommodate returning Australians, and we expect the plan to be very responsible, including safeguards for public safety.”

“There will be important implementation details to settle prior to commencement of any student returns, and it may be some time before any international students transit to Adelaide.”

A UniSA spokeswoman said the university was continuing to work with authorities on the plans but looked forward to welcoming students back “as soon as it is possible”.

International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said the Federal Government would need “a very good reason not to give this rapid approval” after SA’s chief health officer Nicola Spurrier and SA Police signed off on the plan.

“First mover advantage may well see SA enhance its market share,” he said.

Opposition Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Malinauskas criticised the State Government for announcing the plan just days after dismissing his call for a purpose-built quarantine site for returning Australians.

“Here we are only a few days later finding out that now there is going to be a different quarantine system, but it’s not going to be for returning Australians, it’s for international students,” he said.

“There doesn’t seem to be a co-ordinated plan here, there seems to be a lot of inconsistency, and that would have a lot of South Australians confused.”

Federal Labor has asked Defence Minister Peter Dutton to examine whether Woomera RAAF Base or the publicly accessible areas in the green zone would be suitable for a quarantine facility.

Opposition defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor said: “The Morrison Government should be looking at establishing dedicated quarantine facilities to protect the livelihoods of all Australians, and existing defence facilities may provide an option for this to be achieved.”