How the coronavirus pandemic could shift the multicultural make-up of our society

Excluding international students and migrant workers from emergency economic measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic could lead to unintended economic consequences, migration experts have warned. Key points: International students say they are "disheartened" by the government message to "go home" during pandemic COVID-19 is not just a health and economic crisis, but a migrant crisis, experts say Australia will be economically and culturally poorer as a result, demographers warn Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told international students and temporary visa holders they should "return to their home countries" if they were not able to support themselves in Australia. Melbourne University student David Bogi, who came from India to study a masters of international journalism in Australia, told the ABC he was "not surprised" but "extremely disheartened" by Mr Morrison's message. Economic shocks and costs Dr Liz Allen said Australia would also be "economically and culturally poorer" as a result of near-zero international migration. Liz Allen, a demographer from ANU, said Australia would also be "economically and culturally poorer" as a result of near-zero international migration due to border lockdowns.