Victorian Liberal MP Ryan Smith says one would think the state government’s priority would be to “get your own citizens back home” amid news the Andrews government is planning to allow international students back into the state in 2021.

It comes after the higher education sector in Australia warned it could face a loss of up to $8 billion if international students continue to be kept out.

Sky News host Cory Bernardi questioned the Andrews government’s plans, saying “how come we allow international students in when we don’t allow our own people to revive the economy?”

Mr Smith told Mr Bernardi his office is “inundated with people who are just screaming to come home”.

“Our government seems to be in a situation where they’re not even allowing their own citizens to come back to their house,” he said.

“You would think that the priority would be to get your own citizens back home, but now we hear that the government hasn’t done the work that’s required for international students to come back.”