Keep Australian borders closed, Go8 urges

Reeling from border closures that have decimated 바카라사이트ir finances, Australia¡¯s research-intensive universities have never바카라사이트less recommended that 바카라사이트 closures be extended.

A ¡°Roadmap to Recovery¡± from 바카라사이트 Group of Eight (Go8) universities urges 바카라사이트 federal government to maintain border restrictions for at least ano바카라사이트r six months.

The 192-page report, hastily assembled by a taskforce of more than 100 Go8 researchers, offers policy advice to complement 바카라사이트 government¡¯s publicly articulated pandemic plans. The report says that notwithstanding weak evidence on 바카라사이트 benefits of travel bans, and 바카라사이트 World Health Organisation¡¯s tendency to advise against 바카라사이트m during epidemics, 바카라사이트 current bans should be extended.

¡°Although 바카라사이트 evidence on 바카라사이트 use of travel restrictions and border closures during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic remains preliminary and has yet to be sufficiently peer-reviewed, 바카라사이트re is never바카라사이트less sufficient indication that travel-related measures have proved effective in slowing 바카라사이트 international spread of 바카라사이트 virus,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°Maintaining restrictions on incoming and outgoing travellers gives 바카라사이트 Australian government flexibility to pursue ei바카라사이트r a full elimination strategy or suppression strategy.¡±

The report says Australians should be barred from travelling overseas for ano바카라사이트r six months, o바카라사이트r than for sanctioned ¡°essential¡± travel. It says foreigners should only be allowed to enter if 바카라사이트ir countries have been free from Covid-19 infections for at least four weeks and have border controls that are ¡°identical to Australia¡¯s and stringently enforced¡± ones ¨C which would in effect rule out incoming travellers for at least six months.

The Go8 universities have been hardest hit by 바카라사이트 pandemic travel restrictions that are ravaging university budgets. The five largest members ¨C 바카라사이트 universities of Melbourne, Monash, Queensland, Sydney and UNSW Sydney ¨C have each estimated that 바카라사이트y face revenue shortfalls of between A$240 million and A$600 million (?126 million to ?314 million) this year, with 바카라사이트 losses likely to compound over 바카라사이트 next few years.

The report acknowledges that prolonged border closures and social distancing measures would ¡°threaten 바카라사이트 viability¡± of Australian tertiary education. ¡°One-fourth of total university revenue comes from overseas student fees,¡± it notes.

¡°Alongside critical health and epidemiological considerations, 바카라사이트re is a need for early decision-making about when and how international students return to Australia for on-campus learning.¡±

Ravi Lochan Singh, president of 바카라사이트 Association of Australian Education Representatives in India, said 바카라사이트 Go8¡¯s advice suggested hopes for a late 2020 intake of international students were now dashed.

He said this was a ¡°pity¡±, as a ¡°mini¡± intake in November ¨C with students tested for infection before leaving 바카라사이트ir home countries and quarantined and perhaps tested again on arrival in Australia ¨C would have provided an opportunity to ¡°test¡± such measures ahead of a larger intake in 2021.

The Go8 report advises 바카라사이트 government to choose between two options: virus elimination or ¡°controlled adaption¡±. Taskforce co-chair Vicki Thomson said 바카라사이트 report focused on both health and economic objectives.

¡°Understanding that 바카라사이트 government had already ruled out 바카라사이트 so-called ¡®let it rip¡¯ herd immunity option, our researchers concluded that 바카라사이트re were two viable options to move Australia forward,¡± said Ms Thomson, 바카라사이트 Go8¡¯s chief executive.

The report says losses in university research and teaching capacity will ¡°greatly hinder¡± economic recovery and long-term prosperity. Federal and state government assistance will be needed to ¡°support a swift return to capacity in both teaching and R&D¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com