The South Australian Business Chamber has welcomed the review of the migration system final report findings, which informed the Federal Government’s newly released strategic document: A Migration System for a More Prosperous and Secure Australia.
The South Australian Business Chamber lodged a submission to the review late last year outlining that South Australian businesses need a responsive and fit-for-purpose system, with the current system failing in multiple areas.
As outlined in our submission, the review found the current system is not fit for purpose, does little to attract highly skilled people to Australia and presents a convoluted pathway for temporary migrants to stay in Australia permanently.
When migrants arrive, they are often confronted with significant hurdles to have their skills recognised in Australia. The review acknowledged this and its impact on migrants not reaching their potential in the labour market.
We are pleased the review agreed with our view that international competition for highly skilled migrants is paramount, and Australia’s migration program must address this to maximise economic outcomes and future prosperity.
South Australia needs access to highly skilled talent, both homegrown and from overseas. Building nuclear-powered submarines through the AUKUS agreement and leading the energy transition in the nation will require new capacity and capabilities in our workforce.
The staffing needs of businesses in Australia are changing. Geopolitical tensions have seen a renewed focus on sovereign capability and security. Technological advancements are moving at a rapid rate.
The migration system must reflect these changes and provide options to employers to attract overseas talent or make it easier to keep temporary workers in Australia permanently.
The South Australian Business Chamber members name skills and labour shortages as a main constraints to growth. The most recent the South Australian Business Chamber William Buck Survey of Business Expectations showed that 55% of respondents are still experiencing labour shortages.
While migration alone is not the panacea, it is a key part of the solution.
