Jobless, unwelcome, without a flight home

My daughter, who has lost her job in hospitality, has applied for JobSeeker and hopes she will receive the JobKeeper payment. Many of her former colleagues, however, are on temporary visas and are in a much worse position. She has tried to get information and came across a coronavirus webpage for the Department of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs headed by Minister David Coleman. After stating that temporary visa holders can access their Australian super, the statement went on to say temporary visa holders are expected to support themselves and if they can’t, ‘‘it is time to go home’’. Which non-existent flight they are supposed to book, it doesn’t say. My daughter’s friends are running out of money, cannot pay their rent and cannot get home. For a government minister’s website to effectively say to people who are, through no fault of their own, helpless, dependent guests in our country, ‘‘We don’t care about you, just go away,’’ is shameful. The Minister should hang his head for this shameful policy and change it immediately.

Dr Paul Wilson, Surrey Hills

Take the lenient approach

It is really shocking to learn that the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has made it clear that international students need to return to their home countries if they cannot support themselves. It is true that international students have to present financial documents to show they can support themselves when lodging their visa application. However, one thing I would like to ask the Prime Minster is where is the agreement that students should be able to support themselves when the world economy is on the brink? There are students willing to sell their parents’ property back home to obtain money to avoid this crisis in Australia. However, this is not possible at the moment. In this situation how are students able to get money quickly? The government should have taken the lenient approach instead of telling students they need to leave in this dire situation. The government must treat international students more humanely.

Shiva Neupane, Macleod

Some may prefer to be home

Scott Morrison’s call for international students to return home has been criticised by some. However, it may be their preferred option. Homesickness is one of the painful hardships international students suffer. During COVID-19 this is exacerbated, with many concerned for their families. These students may actually prefer to be at home with family. Additionally, China – Australia’s largest source of international students, has reportedly ‘‘flattened the curve’’ to such an extent that it is no longer sourcing critical medical equipment from other countries. Given this improvement, students from China may well be safer at home. Also, homestay providers willing to have students under normal circumstances may be reluctant to provide for them during a lockdown or social isolation – and even more reluctant should a family member, or a homestay student become ill.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East

Expectations go both ways

Should go home? How? It behoves our government to support foreign visitors and students who can’t get back to their own countries, the same as we will expect other countries to support Australians who can’t get home.

Les Aisen, Elsternwick

Nation has become mean and self-centred

How appalling that the Prime Minister dictates that international students who have lost their jobs must go home. Not only do these students make a significant contribution to Australia’s economy and culture while they are here, after graduating they take home more progressive ways of viewing and enacting policies. They have created a studying network here difficult to replicate in isolation in their home country. What a self-centred, mean nation we have become.

Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North