International students to get alternative quarantine in NSW plan to boost unis

The NSW government is planning alternative quarantine accommodation for international students in the hope it can persuade its federal counterpart to approve their return from the second half of the year.

NSW Treasury has advertised for expression of interest, which closes on April 12, saying the return of international students “as soon as possible is vital for retaining jobs in our education sector”. Industry sources estimate that based on 600 beds being available each fortnight up to 7,000 students could return by the end of the year under the plan.

The advertisement invites purpose-built student accommodation providers based in the Sydney CBD or its fringe to submit an expression of interest “with a view of forming a panel of eligible providers to house international students coming into NSW for the 14-day quarantine period”.

Universities in NSW are hoping for the return of international students before the end of the year.Credit: Janie Barrett

The NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW government was looking at ways to ensure it has “the capability and processes in place to allow international students to return safely when restrictions allow”.

“At this stage we are examining options and part of that is looking at how we can bring international students back without reducing our capacity to take Australian citizens wanting to return home,” he said. “NSW continues to take 3000 international arrivals each week, far more than any other state.“

A University of Sydney spokeswoman said it was encouraged by efforts to plan for the arrival and return of international students to NSW.

“We believe the safe return of international students must be a national priority to help universities do our bit for Australia’s economic recovery,” the spokeswoman said.

“We remain hopeful some of our students overseas can safely return to campus this year, and are encouraged by Charles Darwin University’s recent use of the Howard Springs facility for safe quarantine – as well as the success of countries such as Canada, that has reopened its borders to international students through a student corridor and requires students quarantine, and New Zealand’s moves to set up a similar system.”

The tender advertisement says international education is Australia’s second-largest export, generating $14.6 billion in exports annually before the pandemic and supporting nearly 100,000 jobs in NSW.

“We estimate in 2021 we have already lost one-third of our international student base,” it says.

The NSW government now hopes it can convince the federal government to approve its proposal by demonstrating it can return international students in a way that does not disrupt the return of Australian citizens or overload health and police services. It is hoping to offer quarantine arrangements separate from hotels for returning citizens.

International Education Association of Australia chief executive officer Phil Honeywood said that, apart from a small group of students brought back to Darwin last November, the NSW plan, which includes the provision of up to 600 beds over time, was “the first clear evidence that a state government is moving forward with student return plans”.

“Given its priority of preferencing returning Australian citizens, the federal government have made it clear that for overseas students they want charter flights and non-hotel quarantine options from state and territory governments,” he said. “This announcement by the NSW government meets that criteria.”

Macquarie University deputy vice-chancellor Nicole Brigg, who chairs NSW Vice-Chancellors International Committee, said the NSW tender was the first tangible sign the government was preparing for the return of international students. “It’s great news,” she said.

“That is very warmly welcomed by the whole sector and universities in particular,” she said.

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge has said the government remains hopeful that overseas students would be able to return in large numbers by semester one of next year, but discussions about bringing students back in small, phased pilots before then had not yet delivered any firm outcomes.

“I have discussed various plans with government and university leaders but to date have not received any concrete proposal,” he said.

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