Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison has announced financial incentives to lure international workers to the country as he continues to defend his government’s handling of the pandemic in the face of the Omicron surge.
Australia has suffered critical workforce shortages since it closed its borders in March 2020 with few exceptions. It has thus been easing border rules since late last year.
On Wednesday, Morrison said students arriving in Australia would have their visa fee rebated for the next eight weeks while backpackers could get a rebate for the next 12 weeks.
The fee is 630 Australian dollars (450 dollars).
Morrison said his message to the 150,000 international students and 23,500 backpackers who have received their visas was to “come on down.”
“We want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here move all the way around the country.
“We want you to join our workforce and help us in our agricultural sector, in our hospitality sector, and so many of the other parts of the economy that rely on that labour,’’ he said.
The announcement comes as the university year is due to start in late January or early February.
Australia’s states and territories have varying requirements for international arrivals.
Morrison urged regions to ease remaining restrictions.
Meanwhile, Queensland State announced on Wednesday it would scrap mandatory quarantine for double vaccinated travellers starting Saturday.
They would need to take a rapid antigen test within the first 24 hours.
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