23 July 2008

Australian immigration 'could solve unskilled labour shortage'

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans has suggested the country should welcome unskilled as well as skilled workers to meet its labour shortage. The minister told The Epoch Times that the agricultural, hospitality and aged-care sectors would benefit from increased Australian immigration.

Senator Evans told the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy in Perth the country's economy is "reliant" on foreign sources of labour. He also suggested the occupations on the skilled points test should be expanding to further reflect labour shortage needs, the news provider reports.

"The question of whether or not temporary and unskilled foreign labour is needed to sustain our economy has been answered. Business will have to shut down in some cases unless we can get that labour," he told the institute.

Earlier this month, Rhiannon Davies from Shelter Offshore suggested new work regulations should not put people off applying for an Australian visa. She said the National Employment Standards, to be introduced in two years, are designed to improve conditions for both Australian and expatriate workers.

Australia needs skilled 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.