I am pleased that the Victorian Government will support international students after lagging behind other states.
International students in Victoria will receive a relief payment of up to $1,100 as part of a Victorian Government emergency support package announced today.
Until today, all other states and territories except Victoria and New South Wales had provided financial support to international students.
Last week, I called on Premier Daniel Andrews to take action and support international students.
That local Labor MPs Libby Coker and Richard Marles refused to recognise that state Labor needed to step up and do the right thing, including for international students at Deakin University, is most regrettable.
The Morrison Government is providing massive support to universities at this critical time.
We previously announced a higher education package committing to provide universities with more than $18 billion this year, even if they suffered a fall in domestic student numbers.
The Government will also guarantee Commonwealth Grants Scheme (CGS) and HELP funding streams for higher education providers at their current levels for the rest of 2020.
For public universities, their 2020 performance-based funding amounts will also be guaranteed.
The Government continues to work with the sector to minimise the financial impact of COVID-19 on higher education. Universities are also working with the NTEU on measures to support staff.
29 April 2020.