Coronavirus: International students to return to NSW

The NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says initial intake numbers will see 250 students arrive in NSW every fortnight.

Sydney University. Picture: istock

International students will return to NSW within eight weeks, according to Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who says a pilot program to welcome them back will begin imminently and be fully-funded by the university sector.

As revealed by The Australian in May, NSW Police and health officials have signed off on a plan to quarantine students in purpose-built housing that will operate alongside the state’s existing hotel quarantine system.

Mr Perrottet said the initial intake numbers will see 250 students arrive in NSW every fortnight, with that number to be increased to 500 students by the end of the year.

“International education is our second most valuable export and we need to do what we can to help students return and revive this sector as quickly as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.

NSW Police and NSW Health will oversee the quarantine arrangements which will be operated by a “preferred provider” that Mr Perrottet declined to name. The Treasurer said negotiations were continuing with three other providers which will come online once the student intake is scaled up and the need for additional housing increases.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrotet. Picture: Supplied

There are approximately 30,000 Australian citizens currently marooned overseas and unable to fly to Australia due to caps on passenger numbers, which are dictated by available spaces in hotel quarantine.

Mr Perrottet said the incoming students would arrive on charter flights, meaning they would not occupy seats that are sought by stranded Australians looking for commercial flights home.

The charter flights would be funded entirely by the university sector, Mr Perrottet said.

“The cost to the NSW Government is nil,” he added.

The Australian previously revealed that international students were expected to return to NSW in time for the start of the second university semester, which begins in August.

Mr Perrottet confirmed this timetable and said vaccinated students would be required to undergo quarantine.

“The first international students will be back in NSW within the next six to eight weeks,” he said.