Western Sydney University said it will offer Chinese students a one-off payment if they fulfil those requirements. Foreign students are worth about A$35 billion a year to the Australian economy, with Chinese students accounting for about a third of that figure. Australia's largest eight universities, which have 105,000 Chinese students between them, said last week the coronavirus travel ban would cost the economy more than A$1 billion, and put at risk 7500 jobs for each 10% fall in Chinese students. Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce said on Thursday it has been approached by Australian universities to ensure it can provide enough flights for returning Chinese students once restrictions are lifted. Local media on Friday reported the government had discussed allowing some Chinese students from outside Wuhan to enter.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 21, 2020 03:00 UTC