“It is crucial universities remain viable today so they are able maximise their contribution to Australia’s economic recovery tomorrow,” chief executive Catriona Jackson says

Ms Jackson warns, ““now it is clear that there will be a significant decline in second semester international student enrolments due to the virus, government support is more important than ever.”  She puts the “revenue decline that will hit the sector” at $3bn to $4.6bn.

UA calls;

* for government to support local and international students who have lost their jobs

* for universities to qualify for the JobKeeper wage subsidy, which the government has extended to registered charities which suffer a 15 per cent drop in revenue. “We seek urgent confirmation from government that, as registered charities, universities are also able to access this support.”

UA makes no other specific requests, stating, “this will enable universities to maintain their core functions of educating the next generation of skilled graduates and undertaking research, including research which may lead to new treatments or a vaccine for COVID-19.”

However last night the government made it clear that universities do not qualify for the 15 per cent threshold JobKeeper payment, and will have to meet the 30 per cent income drop (turn-over up to $1bn) and 50 per cent (above).