Aussie expats may join international students on pilot program flight to Darwin from Singapore

THE federal government is understood to be looking to fly up to 200 Aussie expats with a cohort of international students travelling from Singapore to Darwin next month.

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THE federal government is understood to be looking to fly up to 200 Aussie expats with a cohort of international students travelling from Singapore to Darwin next month.

The NT Government is working with Charles Darwin University to fly 70 international students to Darwin from Singapore next month.

It will be part of a pilot program in place with the NT and federal government.

The NT News understands the federal government is now looking to fly about 200 Aussie expats with the cohort of international students.

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A Federal Department of Education, Skills and Employment spokesman said on Tuesday that at this stage he was unable to confirm those details.

“The Commonwealth continues to work with the Territory Government to finalise the details of the pilot,” he said.

“State and territory governments are responsible for any pilot programs to return international students in their jurisdictions.”

A spokesman from Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s office indicated that specific discussions about expats still needed to be had with the federal government.

“We don’t control international arrivals, we can’t facilitate that ourselves,” he said.

The federal government is understood to be looking to fly up to 200 Aussie expats with a cohort of international students travelling from Singapore to Darwin next month. Picture: Jack Atley/ Bloomberg News

Darwin-raised pilot Stefan Wood, who runs Singapore Air Charter, said he knew of thousands of stranded Aussie expats wanting to return home.

Mr Wood said it would be “mad” if the government did not use this new pilot program to also help relocate Australians.

“This pilot program is definitely a step in the right direction but we shouldn’t prioritise international students over our own citizens,” he said.

“Flights from Singapore have been so hard to come by so even if a handful of Aussies were able to hop aboard this flight it would still be appreciated.

“I’m already in contact with so many Aussies waiting to go home here and would happy to help organise this.”

Darwin-raised pilot Stefan Wood knows of thousands of stranded Aussie expats wanting to return home. Picture: Justin Kennedy

More than 23,000 Australian citizens remain stuck abroad due to the collapse in international flights.

The students coming to Darwin will be those undertaking higher education and VET courses at Charles Darwin University and, like all arrivals, will pay $2500 to go into quarantine at the Howard Springs facility.

A spokeswoman for Charles Darwin University said more information would be made available once known.

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It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison said health officials were considering whether people coming from “safe” countries could undergo quarantine at home yesterday.

He listed South Korea, Japan and countries in the Pacific as those that could potentially avoid hotel quarantine.

“I think home quarantine can play a role in the future and it’s something that is being considered by the AHPPC, particularly as we move beyond the phase we’re in now,” he said.