The message is bad news for them, and  for international education

On Friday Scott Morrison said international students warrant they are able to support themselves for the first 12 months of study. And if they can’t now, “then there is the alternative for them to return to their home countries.”

It’s disastrous for international students here, who may not be able to get home and for education providers who hope that if they do they will come back when the pandemic passes.

No good way to spin it:  There was not much ministers could do to minimise the meaning in the PM’s message.

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge barely tried Saturday; “the government will undertake further engagement with the international education sector who already provide some financial support for international students facing hardship.”

But he pointed-out being self-supporting is a condition of student visas. And just to make that a little harder he added that the increase in permitted hours (to 40 per fortnight) for students with existing jobs as supermarket shelvers (CMM March 16) reverts to the pre-crisis 20 PW, next month, “as more Australians are recruited into these roles.”

Mr Tudge was followed on Saturday afternoon by Education Minister Dan Tehan; “my message to our international students is you are our friends, our classmates, our colleagues and members of our community.”

Mr Teehan added, the government is working with HE providers, “on finding innovative ways to support our international students.”

At least the minister did not tell internationals to get the first flight.

So how tough are things for internationals now: Probably crook, real crook. Universities Australia included them in the most recent edition of their survey of student finances, in 2018.

UA reported nearly half international students have living expenses exceeding their income, with 89 per cent relying on families/partners. While just over half have some savings, 38 per cent had to draw on them – and that was when families could send money and there was paid work available.