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Australians trapped in their loved ones were overwhelmed by the “cautious” forecasts of international travel in the budget.
Australians trapped in their relatives despair of the news contained in the federal budget document that our international borders are likely to be closed until mid-2022.
The hard-hit tourism and higher education departments warned that they will continue to work hard to survive for another year instead of continuing to travel.
Budgetary economic forecast Rely on optimistic assumptions The entire Australian population will be vaccinated by the end of 2021. Expected to be closed for another six months.
The budget document says: “By mid-2022, it is expected that inbound and outbound international travel will remain at a low level, after which international tourism will gradually resume,”.
related: Shocking border reveals hidden in the budget
Treasury Secretary Josh Frydenberg (Josh Frydenberg) was asked Regarding his predictions during his appearance on the ABC 7.30 Show last night.
He said: “As far as the international border is concerned, this is a conservative and cautious assumption that the international border will gradually reopen from the middle of next year.”
This problem also appears in His short interview on 3AW radio.
Friedenberg told the host Brooke Corte: “We are quite cautious and conservative, assuming that the border will gradually reopen from the middle of next year.”
“The chaos surrounding the opening or closing of the international border is serious industries such as tourism and education. So will the international border be opened in the middle of next year?” she asked, striving for certainty.
The treasurer said: “This is not a policy decision, but an assumption.”
“When you make a budget, you make some assumptions and then incorporate these assumptions into economic forecasts. Our policy decisions on the border will be determined by medical advice, and you cannot say that it is too far from that point in time.
“I don’t think anyone will really know until we get close to that time.”
For the thousands of Australians stranded overseas, the prospect of another closure of the international border is not optimistic, although the budget does include a $176 million repatriation flight and increased consular services.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been difficult for Australians who have been unable to see their loved ones to swallow.
related: The biggest loser in the federal budget
There are also economic consequences, especially for the tourism and education sectors.
Catriona Jackson, chief executive of the Australian University, said the industry “cannot afford” its losses when the border is closed. The university suffers from a lack of international students.
“The governments of all jurisdictions need to work with universities to develop a strong plan to ensure the safe return of international students. This plan will mean the safe isolation of students from low-risk countries,” she said.
“The industry’s revenue last year reached US$1.8 billion. Australian universities estimate that compared with actual operating income in 2019, they will lose another A$2 billion this year.
“As the border is closed to mid-2022, the university’s situation will get worse, which will seriously affect the country’s research capabilities and work both inside and outside the university.
“Without severe damage to national productivity and national knowledge base, Australia’s university sector cannot afford these losses.”
The budget does include plans to allow a small number of international students to return to the country through special quarantine arrangements.
It also arranged $1.2 billion to help the tourism industry by subsidizing domestic airfare costs and helping airlines retain crews and planes ready to fly.
Industry insiders say that this is not enough.
The government is introducing global talent visas and temporary activity visas to allow “highly skilled people” to enter the country.
Mr. Frydenberg said last night: “Australia’s effective management of COVID-19 has made us a place to attract the best and brightest people from all over the world.”
“In order to take advantage of this advantage, where circumstances permit, we are simplifying visas to target highly skilled individuals.”
“This is a budget that makes the tourism industry aloft and has nowhere to go,” said Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism and Transportation Forum.
She added that many tourism companies “have no choice but to raise the white flag and surrender.”
Innes Willox, chief executive of the Australian Industries Group, said companies need to open their borders “as soon as possible, not later.”
“It affects them in many ways. They find it difficult to bring employees into the country. They find it difficult to attract people to repair and replace equipment. They just find it difficult to move around,” he said.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce stated that it is “important” for the government to “reopen in stages” “as soon as possible”.
John Hart, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau, said: “Businesses need certainty.”
“The industry depends on a firm commitment to an international restart from the generation of demand to the acquisition of skills.”
Although Mr. Hart welcomed a number of budgetary measures, including funding to Tourism Australia, he stated that “if there is no plan to open up Australia, such support will be insufficient.”
The opposition blamed this situation on the delayed introduction of vaccines and the continued lack of federal quarantine facilities.
“The international border will not be reopened until the middle of 2022. Did I miss the budget part of the budget that the government will build quarantine facilities to manage international arrivals, or they will speed up vaccine delivery?” Senator Nita Green said.
When the shadow treasurer, Jim Chalmers, spoke on Channel 9 last night, he accused the Prime Minister of slow launch of the vaccine.
“How to keep the border closed until the middle of next year? This seems extraordinary. Would you do something different?” asked the interviewer Chris Uhlmann.
Mr. Chalmers said: “Well, everything is back to vaccination and isolation, which is the responsibility Scott Morrison refused to take.”
“Tonight’s budget is a bit frustrated about when it might reopen. But it all comes back to vaccination.
“You cannot achieve a first-rate economic recovery by launching a third-rate vaccine, but this is what the prime minister gave us.”
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