As the pressure piles-on Australia’s COVID-19 response is unravelling

They say, “never waste a good crisis” but we are

By DIRK MULDER

A week is a long time in politics and last week was anything but predictable for education. Many in the sector cannot remember another time when the landscape was so divided and volatile.

How we got here is anyone’s guess. When COVID-19 started a few months ago the country was united. The national cabinet was formed and politics was put aside. For the most, policy to address the crisis was fast out the door, considered, bi-partisan and supported by all. States worked with states and the federal government relied on policy experts in the public eye. Media observers say you could predict the next announcement by the subtext of the previous.

So, what’s changed?

* China adding a warning to students about studying in Australia, doubling-down on its beefs over barley and livestock trades

* the prime minister warning we are under cyber-attack. He did not name China – he did not need to

* the prime minister keeps stating that for international students to return state borders have to be open. They are about to be in the ACT, but WA still says they are closed.

* premiers arguing. First Queensland’s closed border upset NSW. Now Victoria is upset that South Australia will let in people from adjacent states, except Victoria. The Victorians could be getting angry with NSW as well – yesterday the deputy premier said NSW could stop access for Victorians.

* Federal minister Dan Tehan’s Friday announcement of new fee categories for Australian students was the sour cherry on the now half-baked policy cake.

We had a unified approach to COVID-19 and it was good for education. We need it back.

Now.

Dirk Mulder is CMM’s international education correspondent