Come on down, leftards...
Visa charges to be waived for international students and working holiday makers
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a call for international students and working holiday makers to "come on down" to Australia as the nation grapples with workforce shortages
International students and working holiday makers who arrive in Australia from today will have their visa application fees rebated to encourage more to enter the country.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes on Wednesday to help the nation ease workforce shortages caused by the spread of the Omicron variant.
“What we'll be doing is we will be rebating the visa application fees from all those who arrive today,” he told reporters in Canberra.
International students will have the fees waived for eight weeks from Wednesday, while the changes will be in place for 12 weeks for working holiday makers.
Mr Morrison called on the visa holders to consider coming to Australia as soon as possible.
“My message to them is come on down,” he said.
“We want you to come to Australia and enjoy a holiday here in Australia - move all the way around the country and, at the same time, join our workforce.”
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program allows "young adults to have a 12 month holiday, during which they can undertake short-term work and study", according to the Home Affairs website.
The current visa application fee charge applied against international students is $630 and against working holiday makers is $495.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he hoped changes to the application fees would make a "big difference" in addressing ongoing workforce shortages.
The rapid rise of COVID-19 infections has resulted in thousands of people being forced off work due to the virus or being required to self-isolate as a close contact.
Mr Frydenberg said the government wanted to lure an estimated 175,000 foreign students and working holiday makers to come to the country and
the scheme was expected to cost $55 million.
"We are putting out the welcome mat," Mr Frydenberg told reporters.
WE decide who comes to our country and the circumstances in which they come, no?