“Labor’s policies are out of touch with the needs of small businesses and regional employers,” the South Australian Business Chamber’s Executive Director of Industry and Government Engagement, Anthony Penney, said.
“There’s a perception in parts of the community that migrants take jobs at the expense of local workers. However, there’s always going to be a need for local skilled workers – who are more cost-effective to employ and already part of a community – but when there are shortages, employers shouldn’t be penalised or disadvantaged when needing to employ skilled migrants.
“It’s also easy to argue that employers should just train up more locals, but many of these skilled roles require years of experience, and the people to fill those roles just aren’t there.”
Mr Penney said under Labor’s proposed changes the Skilling Australians Fund Migration Training Levy would increase by more than 50 per cent, from $4,800 to $7,800, along with an application fee to sponsor a skilled migrant over four years on a Temporary Skills Shortage visa.
“South Australia’s small business owners, particularly those in regional areas struggling to already find enough skilled workers, shouldn’t be forced to pay east coast wages to fill their employment gaps. Those employers struggle to have a high-enough turnover to pay staff in some cases, turning to skilled migration as a last resort,” Mr Penney said.
“Any future government needs to consider the whole of Australia when setting minimum wages under the TSMIT, and not just those in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and their surrounding regional centres.”
Mr Penney said access to skilled migration was already time-consuming and expensive, and a significant increase in costs would further hurt small businesses and regional areas.
“We urge both major parties to adopt measured approaches to skilled migration to ensure it remains accessible and responsive to those industries most in need,” he said.
“Migrants don’t take jobs, they create jobs – particularly where there is a desperate need to fill skills gaps that stimulate the many micro economies across South Australia.”
To arrange an interview please contact Verity Edwards on 0412 678 942.
24 April 2019
