The return of international students and skilled migrants on Dec. 15 would be a step in the right direction, according to Andrew McKellar, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which includes state and territory chambers of commerce as well as national industry groups, is Australia’s largest and most representative business association.
Key Takeaways:
- According to Andrew McKellar, the return of international students and skilled migrants on Dec. 15 would be a step in the right direction.
- On Dec. 1, the country declared the reopening of its borders, only to have it postponed for two weeks because of omicron concerns.
- International students returning to Australia have been torn between optimism and sadness as a result of the postponement.
Since the country announced the reopening of its borders on Dec. 1, only to have it postponed two weeks because of concerns about the omicron variant, international students returning to Australia have been divided between optimism and despair.
Because they had already purchased their plane tickets and did not know if and how they may get a refund, many students lost money as a result of the border wait.
McKellar said those who had already made reservations were inconvenienced by the delay, leaving international students returning to Australia with uncertainty over border return.
According to Greg Hunt, Australia’s health minister, he cannot guarantee that the country’s border will reopen to international students and visa holders in mid-December.
But he said that after that time, they intend to return to the old settings, subject to scientific and medical guidance and that it will be determined by evidence from around the world.
International students who have been given an exemption and are returning to Australia via a state or territory’s International Student Arrivals Plan will be able to travel to the country notwithstanding delays in the reopening of its borders.
On Dec. 6, around 250 students arrived in Sydney as part of a trial program run by New South Wales. Another flight is slated to arrive in the country on Dec. 24.
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