NT WINS IN VISA FIGHT

Foreign students allowed to work more

THE tourism and hospitality sectors have welcomed the federal government’s decision to allow foreign students to work unlimited hours.

Previously those on student visas could only work a maximum of 40 hours a fortnight, however, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke yesterday said temporary visa holders could now receive an exception for tourism and hospitality roles.

Foreign students will also be able to apply for a 408 COVID-19 visa in the last 90 days of their temporary visa if they work in hospitality and tourism, giving them an extra year in Australia.

It comes after the NT News recently warned of chronic labour shortages potentially undermining one of the biggest dry seasons in Territory history.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said the two new announcements were “really positive”.

“Both of those initiatives will go some way to addressing our workforce shortages,” Mr Bruce said. “We will see an immediate boost from seeing international students.”

Mr Bruce said there were 5000 international students in the Northern Territory at present, and some of them had seen less support than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic raging across their home countries.

“CDU have been putting on soup kitchens to feed them,” he said.

Mr Bruce and Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said operators had raised the potential measures with Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his recent visit to Darwin.

“For them to be able to join into the labour force is really fantastic,” Mr Hingley said.

“We need to be looking at some really good practical solutions.

“One of those is giving foreign students the ability to work more than 40 hours.”

Mr Hingley also welcomed the move as “humanitarian”, allowing stranded students to make a better living.

“They’ve been doing it really, really tough,” he said.

NT Senator Sam McMahon said the announcement was proof the government was listening to the concerns of Territory businesses.