Sheelagh Blanckenberg
8th February 2010, 04:16 PM
ABC February 8, 2010
The mining industry says 30,000 more people will be needed to fill jobs over the next three years.
The move to fast track more highly skilled workers into Australia has been welcomed by the mining industry.
The Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, says there will be a stronger focus on attracting highly skilled migrants instead of those with training in jobs like cooking or hairdressing.
He says a new and more targeted skilled occupations list will be developed.
Senator Evans also says there will be a shakeup of the list of occupations in demand and the point system.
"We've found that a lot of highly skilled people with higher education degrees or a lot of overseas experience aren't passing the points test where people with a lower level qualification and some education in Australia were so we want to make sure we're getting the high end applicants."
Thousands needed
The Chief Executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association, Steve Knott, says there is a massive shortfall of mechanical and electrical staff - and chefs.
"The boom in the resources sector, particularly in the North West of Western Australia, has been quite strong so we welcome the decision that has been made."
"We need the people on the job now and the demand going forward will be even greater as these projects get off the ground."
Under the changes, State and Territory Governments will be able to hand pick permanent migrants to cover a shortfall in qualified mining and health workers.
Mr Knott says it is hard to put an exact number on the estimate of skilled workers needed.
"Well, what we do know is that the Gorgon project is going ahead, we know the Pluto project's onfoot now with Woodside, we're hearing about massive construction plans in Queensland with coal exports to China that were announced on the weekend, so we are talking tens of thousands of people here that will be required in the years ahead."
The changes will make it harder for overseas students to get permanent residency visas but Senator Evans says there will be transitional arrangements to help current students.
SOURCE (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/6774004/mining-industry-welcomes-freeing-up-of-skilled-migration-rules/)
MH
The mining industry says 30,000 more people will be needed to fill jobs over the next three years.
The move to fast track more highly skilled workers into Australia has been welcomed by the mining industry.
The Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, says there will be a stronger focus on attracting highly skilled migrants instead of those with training in jobs like cooking or hairdressing.
He says a new and more targeted skilled occupations list will be developed.
Senator Evans also says there will be a shakeup of the list of occupations in demand and the point system.
"We've found that a lot of highly skilled people with higher education degrees or a lot of overseas experience aren't passing the points test where people with a lower level qualification and some education in Australia were so we want to make sure we're getting the high end applicants."
Thousands needed
The Chief Executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association, Steve Knott, says there is a massive shortfall of mechanical and electrical staff - and chefs.
"The boom in the resources sector, particularly in the North West of Western Australia, has been quite strong so we welcome the decision that has been made."
"We need the people on the job now and the demand going forward will be even greater as these projects get off the ground."
Under the changes, State and Territory Governments will be able to hand pick permanent migrants to cover a shortfall in qualified mining and health workers.
Mr Knott says it is hard to put an exact number on the estimate of skilled workers needed.
"Well, what we do know is that the Gorgon project is going ahead, we know the Pluto project's onfoot now with Woodside, we're hearing about massive construction plans in Queensland with coal exports to China that were announced on the weekend, so we are talking tens of thousands of people here that will be required in the years ahead."
The changes will make it harder for overseas students to get permanent residency visas but Senator Evans says there will be transitional arrangements to help current students.
SOURCE (http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/6774004/mining-industry-welcomes-freeing-up-of-skilled-migration-rules/)
MH