Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a $3 million funding boost to Tourism Australia to help attract more backpackers and student visa holders to the country and help fill the critical worker shortages.

He said Omicron has presented one of the biggest challenges of the pandemic and described it as a frustrating summer for many Australians.

“As we face Omicron, we must respect it, but not fear it.”

He announced a rebate to encourage international students to come back to Australia and help fill the critical workforce shortage.

“What we will be doing is we will be rebating the visa application fees from all those who arrive today, and going forward for students over the next 8 weeks, and that is a fee of some $630,” he said.

“There are around 150,000 students who have visas, who we are encouraging to come back to be there for the start of university.”

He said the government will do the same for backpackers, rebating their visa fees for the next 12 weeks.

“We will be rebating their visa application fee, and there are some 23,500 backpackers who have visas to come to Australia right now,” he said.

“My message to them is come on down.”

QUT Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil told Scott Emerson it was a welcome decision.

“This sends, for the first time, I think, a very positive signal to our international students that we’re looking forward to welcoming them back.

“That, combined with the Premier’s announcement about international travellers from 1am next Saturday means for the first time we have certainty.”

Press PLAY below to hear the QUT Vice-Chancellor’s reaction in full 

Image: Nine News