Welcome more skilled immigrants—Opposition urges Australia

Australia, 7th August: Australia must reform its immigration norms to allow an increased number of skilled immigrants to come and work here on mining projects in Western Australia.

Only such a move can help in providing a solution to the growing problem of looming skills shortage in Australia.

Skills shortage in Australia—Australia is facing uncertain availability of workforce and this is posing a hindrance in the way of attracting foreign investors.

Talking about the issue, Scott Morrison, official immigration spokesperson of Opposition during a migration and labor conference held at Brisbane for the mining sector, said the government must take immediate steps for finalization of EMA.

Such a move will facilitate in entry of temporary skilled workers to immigrate and get employment in Western Australia.

Quoting the case of Roy Hill mine project in WA (Western Australia), Mr. Morrison said the EMA for it has failed to provide any clear picture till now. Keeping in view the booming mining sector of Western Australia, the government must take immediate steps in this regard to help control the risks involved in resources and mining sector.

Existing barriers to firms for recruiting skilled foreign workers on Australian 457 visas(for working temporarily in Australia) will be the goal of the coalition with its ultimate aim to boost skilled immigration in the nation, Morrison maintained.

EMA approval not slowed—Govt.—Meanwhile, Australian immigration minister Chris Bowen, in a reaction to the claims that government had failed to take needed steps with regard to EMA agreement, said it is not true.

In fact, the government has not slowed down the EMA approval process, Bowen affirmed.

The immigration minister, while answering queries regarding the issue, said the fact is that the number of applications is quite less.

And as to why it took so long for the government to approve the EMA is because the aim was to make it effective, he further clarified. He, however, refused to indulge in details about the total applications received for EMAs from firms.

He only stated that only a handful of mining companies forwarded the applications for EMAs to hire temporary foreign workers for working on projects in WA and Queensland.