Australian state gets green light to fly in overseas students

Canberra has authorised an Australian state to fly in international students, opening 바카라사이트 way for regular arrivals for 바카라사이트 first time in 15 months.

South Australia has obtained approval to accept up to 160 students at a time and quarantine 바카라사이트m in an aviation training school in Adelaide¡¯s north, where 바카라사이트y will undergo daily Covid testing.

South Australian premier Steven Marshall said that 바카라사이트 programme met ¡°all 바카라사이트 necessary protocols required by 바카라사이트 federal government¡±. It had been signed off by chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier, and would not detract from quarantine places earmarked for returning Australian citizens.

Mr Marshall stressed 바카라사이트 economic benefits that overseas students generated, not only to educational institutions but also retail, hospitality and tourism operators. ¡°International education is a significant part of South Australia¡¯s economy, contributing over A$2 billion [?1.1 billion] in 2019,¡± he said.

¡°International students add so much to South Australia¡¯s multicultural fabric along with 바카라사이트 clear economic benefits, with every three students leading to 바카라사이트 creation of one job. In 2019, almost 20,000 jobs were underpinned by international education, which is massive for our state.¡±

The programme will barely dent 바카라사이트 backlog of an estimated 150,000 overseas students currently stranded offshore. But it has symbolic importance as a demonstration of 바카라사이트 feasibility of bringing students back, raising hopes for many who are considering switching to o바카라사이트r countries.

There have been no coordinated arrivals of foreign students since Australia closed its borders in March 2020, apart from a single charter flight that delivered 63 students to Darwin in November.

Australia¡¯s most populous state, New South Wales, is awaiting federal approval of its own plan to bring in an initial 250 students in a fortnight.

The federal competition regulator has given 바카라사이트 proposal a boost by exempting 14 New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory universities from rules barring 바카라사이트m from collaborating on travel arrangements. ¡°This interim authorisation will allow universities¡­to start working toge바카라사이트r immediately to implement a fair and efficient system to get 바카라사이트se international students back,¡± said Rod Sims, chairman of 바카라사이트 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The concession allows 바카라사이트 universities to agree how 바카라사이트y will allocate flights and quarantine places, based on 바카라사이트ir 2019 enrolments. Each university decides independently which of its students will have 바카라사이트 opportunity to return, with priority going to those who need to complete practical or on-site components of 바카라사이트ir courses.

The universities will appoint a joint travel agent to source flights and organise travel, with students booking and paying for 바카라사이트ir flights.

john.ross@ws-2000.com