Immigration has been a fairly high profile topic in the campaigns of both of the main parties contesting the upcoming Australian federal election. The conservative opposition Liberal Party has been more strident in its calls for reduced numbers of immigrants, suggesting a cut of almost 50%. However, the ruling Labour Party has also sought to dispel the recessionary fears of Australians worried about the effects of immigrants on jobs, health services and housing.

At the same time, many business leaders are warning that such politicking may lead to measures that will endanger the future growth of the Australian economy, by creating significant skills shortages in key industries. James Pearson, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia, believes plans to restrict immigrant numbers are short-sighted. “Australia is crying out for skilled workers”, says Pearson. Other economists warn that more than 200,000 positions across a range of sectors in Western Australia will remain vacant unless there is an influx of qualified staff from overseas.

Australian agriculture is also reporting a skills deficit, with a dearth of agronomists, vets and managers, through to those with experience of operating harvesting machinery and shearers."The farmers, unfortunately, don't have enough workers," says Denita Wawn from the National Farmers' Federation.
"We are estimating that we need up to 100,000 additional workers over the next five years."
The vast majority of these jobs will be in the skilled or semi-skilled category as agriculture becomes more technologically advanced. "We are very concerned that the lack of people will impede increased productivity," says Ms Wawn, adding that farmers would be "exceptionally concerned" if a revamped immigration programme did not have the requisite flexibility to meet their specific needs.

As election day approaches, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her opposition Liberal Party rival Tony Abbott - incidentally, both migrants from Britain - have insisted that any scaling back of immigration will not damage the hearty glow of the Australian economy.

Source: BBC News, Aug 2010

For information on your options for emigrating to Australia, contact Migration Bureau now.
For a free, no-obligation test (5-10 mins) of your eligibility to emigrate, please click here.