15 April 2008

Rural transport industry looking for workers through temporary Australian visas

The rural transport industry in Australia is short of workers, according to a report from the South Australian Freight Council. Overseas workers are seen as the ideal way to fill the shortage by the council, which is proposing bringing people in on temporary Australian visas. The report calls on the federal and state governments to look into the issues brought up, of which the skills shortage is the major one.

Rodney Quinn, the Eyre Peninsula transport operator, said: "Many of the issues identified by the council are already hurting the efficiency and productivity of a vast number of regional businesses and economies." He added that it in many ways regional South Australia is considered the "poor cousin" to the bright lights of the metropolitan Adelaide area, suggesting that it is hard to attract people to the area through Australian immigration. The Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula and such towns as Port Augusta, Port Lincoln and Whyalla are all located there.

Australia needs transport industry workers: Anyone applying for an Australian visa should begin by completing the Australian Visa Bureau's online Australian visa application to see if they meet the Australian visa requirements.