The government keeps shelving plans to bring international students back to Australia It owes them an explanation theconversation.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theconversation.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Universities Concerned Vaccine Rollout Will Delay Return of International Students
Australian university sector executives are worried the delayed vaccine rollout will hinder international students’ returning to the country.
“There’s no way the $40 billion-a-year (US$30.5 billion) industry could withstand the loss of a third academic year next year,” Phil Honeywood, CEO of International Education Association of Australia, told The Age.
The recent change in medical advice surrounding the dangers of AstraZeneca has hampered the government’s original plan to get every Australian vaccinated by October this year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also refrained from setting a new target but said he hopes the public will be vaccinated by the end of the year.
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Vaccinated Australians could be allowed to undertake quarantine-free overseas travel within months, with health officials told to develop medical thresholds for easing international border controls once vulnerable people are protected.
Following Friday’s national cabinet meeting, premiers also agreed to lift capacity at large, ticketed, seated events such as sporting matches to 100 per cent as well as strive to keep state borders open when coronavirus outbreaks flare up.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says national cabinet is looking at how to reopen Australia.
Alex Ellinghausen
As the government tries to push ahead with reopening the economy despite the setback to the vaccine rollout, the tourism and education sectors warned they would suffer further damage if the international borders remained closed for long.