Coronavirus: Scott Morrison’s message ‘left us feeling abandoned’, say foreign students

International students and temporary migrants in Australia have been left in a dire predicament after losing all or most of their work during the pandemic.

Colombians Luisa Arango and David Correa came to Australia to study but since the pandemic have lost their jobs and struggle to pay tuition fees and rent. Picture: Aaron Francis

Thousands of international students and temporary migrants in Australia have been left in a dire predicament, unable to pay for basic needs such as food and rent, after losing all or most of their work during the pandemic.

A national survey of more than 6100 international students and temporary migrants found 70 per cent had lost all or most of their income since March, while about a third were now unable to pay for essential needs.

About one in seven had been homeless during that time.

The survey results will increase pressure on Scott Morrison to do more to help international students — as Britain, Canada and New Zealand have done — after telling visitors in April it was time to “make (their) way home”.

A report by UNSW law associate professor Bassina Farbenblum and UTS law associate professor Laurie Berg, released on Thursday, says thousands had expressed anguish at the decision to exclude them from JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments.

The Prime Minister’s message had left them feeling abandoned and worthless: they described feeling like “we do not exist”, as “cash cows” or “aliens who don’t belong here”. About a quarter said they had experienced verbal racist abuse since the pandemic hit.

International students Luisa Arango, 24, and David Correa, 26, arrived in Melbourne from Col­ombia in 2018 with high hopes. They found cleaning and construction work to support them and were paying Australian taxes, going out with friends and enjoying what the city had to offer while they studied.

Both lost almost all of their hours of work in March. Ms Arango said her casual cleaning job had been linked to the events industry: “After that, they told me if we need you, we will call you.”

“It’s not at all what we expected, it is very hard. I’ve been trying to apply for all the jobs I can.”

She said she had been visiting food centres to get enough to eat and was now struggling with depression. Her savings had just about run out, and while her family provided some support, things were also tough in Colombia.

“It’s difficult for everyone — I really understand the Australian government has to help its citizens, but I cannot get help, and it’s very sad for me,” she said.

Mr Correa, studying business, said the college had not adjusted its fees, which were high, even though they were now getting a substandard online course and could not use its facilities.

“The schools were not ready for teaching like that,” he said.

Flights back to Colombia were now more than $4000, he said.

Ms Farbenblum said Australia was an outlier — other countries such as the UK, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand had extended wage subsidies to temporary visa holders, sending a message they were valued.

“Australia has sent the opposite message very clearly … that when times are tough they should go home,” she said.

Alan Tudge, Acting Immigration Minister, said there had always been an expectation temporary visa holders were able to support themselves in Australia.