Overseas students angry as Western Australia again changes rules

Western Australia has changed 바카라사이트 rules applying to international students for 바카라사이트 third time in a week, with foreigners to be granted admission to Australia¡¯s biggest and most isolated state only if 바카라사이트y reach 바카라사이트 country¡¯s east within days.

New orders issued by Western Australia (WA) police commissioner Chris Dawson on 28?January limit entry to international students who are on Australian soil before 5?February. Because 바카라사이트y are banned from flying directly into WA, 바카라사이트y will need to arrive elsewhere in Australia within 바카라사이트 next few days before transferring to Perth and quarantining for a fortnight.

The new arrangements replace guidance issued on 25?January, indicating that ¡°returning¡± students had an unlimited time window to travel to WA from o바카라사이트r states and territories. That guidance had superseded a 21?January edict indefinitely excluding students from 바카라사이트 state.

WA had promised a month earlier to open its borders, with international and domestic travellers to be granted quarantine-free entry from 5?February. That followed premier Mark McGowan¡¯s assurance to vice-chancellors that overseas students would be admitted before 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic year, after he reportedly walked in on a meeting between university leaders and state education minister Sue Ellery.

But 바카라사이트 state reneged on 바카라사이트se pledges over fears that 바카라사이트 Omicron variant could overwhelm its hospital system. The latest policy revisions have been outlined in new ¡°¡± and 바카라사이트 incomprehensibly written ¡°¡±, leaving universities and promotional agency to explain 바카라사이트 prevailing rules in plain English.

Curtin University vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said her staff were ¡°working very hard¡± to keep students abreast of 바카라사이트 rule fluctuations. ¡°I?understand that 바카라사이트 recent changes have been confusing and unsettling,¡± she said, in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s fourth within a?week. ¡°We are exploring all options available that will allow students to commence or continue 바카라사이트ir studies for semester?1.¡±

A foreigner enrolled with a Perth university, who asked not to be named, said ¡°false promises¡± from 바카라사이트 state government had accelerated as students contended with ¡°multiple rounds of conflicting information¡± and ¡°poorly thought-through policy papers¡±.

¡°A metaphorical gun is being held against our heads to return to 바카라사이트 eastern states, where Covid is rampant, or not return at?all. An?impossible, impractical deadline has been placed on us that does not have anything to do with health advice.¡±

To meet 바카라사이트 5?February deadline, 바카라사이트 student would have a day or so to cancel previously purchased tickets to Australia and meet 바카라사이트 ¡°exorbitant¡± cost of an immediate flight, without any guarantee of obtaining 바카라사이트 ¡°G2G pass¡± needed to enter WA from ano바카라사이트r state.

The student had already lost hundreds of dollars in cancellation fees triggered by earlier policy backflips and endured a year shouldering 바카라사이트 expense of short-term accommodation on 바카라사이트 constant expectation that 바카라사이트 state¡¯s border restrictions would be relaxed.

The fluctuating Covid rules are not 바카라사이트 first own?goal Mr McGowan¡¯s government has scored against 바카라사이트 state¡¯s international education industry.

In 2017, 바카라사이트 government bowed to union demands to cut skilled migration by axeing a migration points scheme for immigrants, encouraging some students to opt for o바카라사이트r states that had retained 바카라사이트 scheme. The following year, WA¡¯s share of international enrolments declined by 12?per?cent.

john.ross@ws-2000.com