Uni SA Labor Club

"The coronavirus crisis has thrown the spotlight on Australia's manufacturing sector. The sudden restrictions in overseas markets and the extraordinary global demand for products such as medical supplies have laid bare Australia's over-reliance on supply chains out of China.

After reaching a high of nearly 30 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the 1960s, manufacturing has since fallen to 6 per cent of GDP.

How incredibly stupid it is for us as a nation to dig the lithium out of the ground, send it overseas and buy the batteries back at 50-times the price".

From computer games to building supermarkets — this business shows the problems in our 'pivot' to manufacturing The Federal Government has been spruiking a return to manufacturing in post-Covid-19 world, but experts say it will be tough to flick the switch on a sector of the economy that's been withering on the vine for decades.

"The Federal Government has previously ruled out extending eligibility for the JobKeeper program pointing casual workers who are not covered by the scheme to the JobSeeker program.

According to a 2018 report from the Grattan Institute, casual employees have been on the increase for the last 20 years and make up roughly 23 per cent of the university academic workforce".

Casual university workers fall through the cracks - InDaily South Australian universities risk losing the next generation of young academics as tens of thousands of casual workers fall through the cracks of the Federal Government’s job subsidy scheme, the tertiary education union has warned.

"International education providers have also been alarmed about long-term damage to Australia’s reputation after Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently said it was “time to go home” for foreign students and workers who couldn’t support themselves.

[A] lack of support being shown to international students by the Australian government right now could also do lasting reputational damage to the university sector.".

Loss of international students set to blow $30b-$60b hole in economy The Australian economy faces a projected $30 billion to $60 billion hit within the next three years from the loss of revenue from international students.

"Clearly, the situation of many international students in private rental accommodation is extremely precarious. COVID-19 could be a tipping point for many. Not only will they have no income, but they could find themselves homeless with no possibility of flying home to their families.

They might also not be able to pay their fees. This could result in their “confirmation of enrolment” being cancelled and their student visa being withdrawn. Students will then be in Australia illegally and could find themselves in immigration detention".

Why coronavirus impacts are devastating for international students in private rental housing Even before COVID-19, 22% of international students often went without food or necessities and almost half depended on paid work to cover the rent. With many of their jobs gone, they're now desperate.

"Now is also the chance to rebuild our great public institutions after decades of neglect and degradation, reversing decades of cuts to the likes of the ABC, CSIRO, the universities and the arts. The moment has come for a rebalancing of the economy to serve the majority of the Australian people, through investing in the core economy of essential social and physical infrastructure".

When we rebuild our economy, we must do it with sustainability in mind Beyond the initial urgent response to safeguard our families, our leaders have before them a moment of reckoning.

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This is happening. Sad it has taken this crisis.