The Australian DIAC warned of skills shortages.
Calls are growing for the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to overhaul its skilled migration program because of looming shortages.
The Australian Financial Review has reported that mining and the energy industry face severe shortages if the government does not urgently review the program.
Industry chiefs from major companies such as United Group Ltd have warned that a skills shortage is just 12 to 18 months away.
The change to priority processing resulted in many applicants for state sponsored visas being told they face a wait of up to three years for their Australian visas to come through.
The Chief Executive Officer of United Group Ltd, Richard Leupen, also blamed a slowdown of staff training because of the recession as well as the government’s tightening of the business visa program.
Many state governments as well as major mining and energy industries will now have to wait to see if the skills shortages will be covered in the anticipated changes to the critical skills list (CSL) and the migration occupations in demand list (MODL).
The government have come under heavy criticism for changes made to priority processing for business visas, with many Britons having been prepared to make the move to Australia within months, now being told they face a further three years.
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3 Responses to “Australian Immigration Dept Warned of Skills Shortages”
Comment by Michael Quinlan — October 14, 2009 @ 10:29 pm
After being out of work for nine months…as a skilled engineer….this article is in poor taste. The engineering/IT/construction management HR marker is currently flooded with migrants from third world countries who have economically destabilised…. engineers are being paid less than unskilled labourers….there seems to be a number of unemployed, soon to be divrced professionals who are attempting suicide because they cant hold down a job…. politicans are making up migrant quotas by flooding the cournty with professionals because the unions don’t want to bring in migrant tradesmen….Its getting so bad that it might be time to investigate legal action against the politicians for deliberately destabilising certain industries and inflicting psychological injury onto IT/engineering/construction management professionals. Its hard to justify bringing in more construction management professionals into australia than tradesmen…and yet the politicans seem to justify in their minds somehow….
My understanding is that these sorts of articles are published by politicans to maintain consumer and investor confidence during a period where the economy could easily collapse.
Comment by Lisa Valentine — October 15, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Hi Michael. Your point is a valid and very concerning one. The source for the story was the Financial Review. I’m sure you realise that the government will deny that migrants are taking jobs from local workers, and indeed any employer, before taking on migrant workers, have to first prove that the work could not be done by local workers. As a journalist I do try to reflect both sides of the story and am therefore happy to publish your comments on this. Your opinions are highly relevant and it’s good to hear an Australian worker’s point of view. Thank you for taking the time to post your comment.
Comment by Deni — October 23, 2009 @ 7:04 am
It is so sad to see migration policy changes so often. specailly when it applies to people who have already applied. This is not fair at all, DIAC keep changing the gall post. People have paid thousands of dollars , wasted lot of time preparing, sold thier houses and now they have to wait years to get an answer. They should have mentioned a specific period where the rules apply like decent human beings.