Borders should be reopened for international students and the Victorian government should fund their 14-day hotel quarantine to help revive a higher education sector crippled by coronavirus, the state opposition says.
Australian universities are expected to lose between $3 billion and $4.6 billion in revenue this year, according to Universities Australia, because of a sharp decline in international enrolments and students living on campus, fuelled largely by the federal government's COVID-19 travel bans.
The Victorian opposition said it was critical the state government worked with the Commonwealth to help international students resume their studies as coronavirus restrictions were eased.
"Rebuilding Victoria's international education sector is part of the Liberal-Nationals' 'back to work and back in business' plan," Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said.
"Victorian jobs depend on our international students. The Liberal-Nationals believe the Victorian government must act now to secure those jobs as we enter the recovery phase."
Australia's borders remain closed to non-citizens, including international students, but federal Health Minister Greg Hunt last week said the Commonwealth would welcome universities' plans on how to safely accommodate students arriving in Australia.
Victoria, South Australia and NSW are backing a "secure corridor" pilot framework, put to federal and state governments by the elite Group of Eight universities, that could allow some students to return for second semester, subject to strict health checks. Large-scale arrivals are unlikely until next year.
The first step of the framework would allow people from eligible countries that contained the spread of COVID-19 to move to Australia. Students would be required to pay accommodation costs for their mandatory two-week quarantine.
But the Victorian Coalition hopes a state government commitment to fund the 14-day quarantine would encourage international students to come to Australia and help prop up the struggling sector.
It said revitalising the higher education industry, which in 2018 generated $11.8 billion in export revenue and supported almost 80,000 jobs, was vital to Victoria's economy.
More than 650,000 international students currently in Australia have struggled to make ends meet since the coronavirus state of emergency was declared in March.
The vast majority have lost their jobs and have been ineligible for hardship funding. In April, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told international visitors without a job it was time for them to "make your way home".
The Victorian government announced a $1000 support package for international students but the money has not reached them yet. Most universities are also offering assorted emergency relief.
"International education and training is a vital part of Victoria's economy," opposition higher education spokesman Gordon Rich-Phillips said.
"Without them, more Victorian jobs will be lost and our economy will continue to slump."
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