Go home, Aussie PM tells int'l students in financial trouble

CORONAVIRUS | Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told visitors and international students in the country to return to their home countries, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

This is if they can no longer financially support their stay in Australia amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Australia must focus on its citizens and its residents to ensure that we can maximise the economic supports that we have,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

Nevertheless, he said there may be exceptions for international visitors with critical skills that could help Australia manage the crisis such as “backpackers in Australia who are nurses or doctors”.

The ABC report noted that international students don’t have some of the financial safety nets that Australian citizens and permanent residents enjoy, and many have lost their jobs during the pandemic.

Australian student visas allow students to work on part-time or casual basis for up to 40 hours per fortnight.

Morrison reportedly pointed out that international students are required to be able to support themselves in the first 12 months of their stay.

Separately, following Singapore’s move to shut most workplaces for a month, Johor Bahru MP Akmal Nasir urged the Malaysian government to consider bringing back Malaysians who are no longer able to work there.

They would have to be screened and placed under a 14-day quarantine at a government-run facility and Akmal urged that they should also be given financial assistance.

“Ensure the welfare of Malaysians working in Singapore through financial aid for those receiving daily wages and for those with a salary below RM4,000 per month,” he said in a statement.

Previously, when the movement control order was announced, the government (MCO) said all Malaysians would be barred from leaving the country. Those returning from abroad would be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine at home.

This prompted a mad dash for Singapore by Malaysians working there before the Malaysian border closed on March 18.

The government later clarified that Malaysians can still go to Singapore to work, but must remain there until the MCO is no longer in force.

Those returning from abroad will also be placed at quarantine centres instead of being quarantined at home due to a high rate of non-compliance with the MCO.  - Mkini