Chinese student Zhang Yiming, who is in Heilongjiang, originally planned to take an international flight to Sydney this morning, but 12 hours before his departure, Australian Prime Minister Morrison announced the suspension of opening the border to some temporary visa holders on December 1 in response to the potential threat of the Omickron variant.
After learning of this news, Zhang Yiming canceled his flight and travel plan and immediately began to wait for the federal government to update the subsequent border control news.
Last July, Zhang Yiming, a major in Australia, studied in Newcastle University (University of Newcastle) Doctor of Law (Juris Doctor, JD).
took an online class for a year. I originally thought that the impact of the epidemic on his study abroad life would come to an end, but unexpectedly, all the plans were disrupted overnight, leaving him with disappointment and frustration.
"I am very worried about changing the orders every day," said Zhang Yiming.
"Morrison's governance policy and border control are too strict. He is extremely irresponsible to temporary visa holders, and the preparation and emergency time left for international travelers is seriously insufficient.
"I personally guess that the capricious border farce in 2020 may repeat. ”
111 On the evening of November 29, Australian Prime Minister Morrison was on the National Security Council (National Security) Committee) announced after discussion that plans to open borders to temporary residents such as student visas, temporary work visas and humanitarian visa holders will be postponed until December 15 to allow the health department to collect and evaluate the latest information about the Omickon variant.
In recent returnees, Australia has found six international travelers infected with the Omickon variant, five of whom are in NSW , One person is in Northern Territory .
Prime Minister Morrison said the federal government will continue to take "wise and targeted" actions under the leadership of medical experts to ensure Australia can be safely open and learn to coexist with the virus.
Meanwhile, federal interior minister Karen Andrews Andrews said in an interview with the media that it is "appropriate" to suspend the opening of the country's door for 14 days, and Australia has been "opening the country as safely and quickly as possible."
But for international students like Zhang Yiming who have arranged their itinerary to return to Australia, they undoubtedly need to face another blow in the past two years.
International Student Return to Australia plan to shelve again
Zhang Yiming said that he understands Australia's approach is to protect the public health security of the community, but the government's decision not only means that his plan was disrupted overnight, but also put his future and career planning in trouble.
Under the epidemic, he can only take online classes but cannot be close. He has been facing great pressure since experiencing study abroad in Australia. He said that "uncertainty" and "frustration" are two keywords in the year and a half since enrollment.
Since February last year, more than 100,000 Chinese students have been unable to enter the country due to the sudden announcement of the Australian government's border closure.
Like Zhang Yiming, many of them regard searching and browsing news about Australian border policies every morning as a habit, because for them, studying abroad not only means taking classes, but more importantly, experiencing customs and opportunities to exercise themselves in a foreign country.
"Even if you take online classes in Australia, you can also contact them through some other offline forms. Although we can have the Internet... but this is not an immersive experience at all," he said.
"Australia's proud immigration and education industry will definitely be replaced by other countries in the future. After all, no one will be willing to gamble on their own life. ”
In addition to Zhang Yiming, some Chinese people are also facing the same experience. Nanjing mother Sarah Cai (sound, sound, Sarah Cai) originally planned to take her son from Guangzhou to Melbourne to study in the 11th grade of middle school in Ballarat town. Overnight, her plan was completely disrupted.
Last night, the mother and son who planned to fly to Guangzhou had to cancel their trip in China after hearing the news.
"They will say that the situation is changing and policies are formulated based on expert opinions. But the rationality of the procedure cannot cover up their incompetence and dare not take responsibility. It is not the style of a great power," said Ms. Cai. She expressed her extreme disappointment with Australia's repeated failure to speak out, and also shook her confidence in taking her children to study in Australia.
"If the West, which had more advantages than disadvantages in the eyes of Chinese intellectuals in the 1980s and 1990s, became what it is today, it would really be a point of sending children out is not learning."
Melbourne immigration agent Yan Minghuang, who has long advocated the rights of international students and temporary residents, also expressed strong concerns. He said Prime Minister Morrison's announcement will further reduce confidence among overseas people in Australia's border policy.
"Many international students set their air tickets as soon as possible after the policy was released last week, hoping to return to Australia and experience the real study abroad life as soon as possible, and look forward to offline classes, but now possible changes have cast a shadow on all this again," said Yan Minghuang.
"Compared with the same comparison between Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, etc., which have long been open to international students, this will lead to possible further loss of international students."
