“It probably wasn’t the wisest decision during the pandemic to tell everyone who was a temporary visa holder to leave,and to provide them with no income and no support,which means many of them have left with ill feeling towards Australia and that spreads around,” Albanese said.
“We’ve got a globalised labour market,and we need to enhance our reputation,Australia is a great place to live,or to visit,and we need to always bear that in mind,and I think some of the actions that occurred then weren’t wise.”
Former prime ministerScott Morrison said after a national cabinet meeting in April 2020 that people in Australia on temporary visas who couldn’t support themselves had the available alternative to return to their home countries.
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“As much as it’s lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times,at times like this if you’re a visitor in this country,it is time ... to make your way home,” he said. “Australia must focus on its citizens and its residents to ensure that we can maximise the economic supports that we have.”
As opposition leader,Albanese backed that call,but suggested workers on temporary visas should be eligible for JobKeeper.
“The exclusion of temporary visa holders from the JobKeeper arrangements is also of concern. I agree with the prime minister that if a temporary visa worker can go home in the midst of this crisis,they should,” Albanese said in 2020.