Australia: Migration critical in recovery phase

In a speech delivered at The Australian Financial ReviewBusiness Summit held in Sydney, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that the Australian government has an “open mind” on post-pandemic migration overhaul.

As the Australian economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, it will have to be thought out, as per the PM, as to how Australia temporary visa holders can help in meeting workforce shortages.

While the Australian migration program has been impacted by the pandemic, migration is being regarded to be critical in the recovery phase.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made these comments in an address to the AFR Business Summit on Tuesday, during a speech that focused on growing the economy out of the recession.

According to the Australian PM, an open mind will be required from the Australian government on overhauling the Australian migration program following the impact of the pandemic.

The Australian PM urged relooking “at the role that temporary visa holders play in meeting our economy’s workforce requirements, where Australians do not fill these jobs”.

As per Prime Minister Scott Morrison, “Rather than taking Australian’s jobs, we need to instead appreciate how filling critical workforce shortages with temporary visa holders can actually create jobs elsewhere in the economy and, in particular, sustain growth and services in our regional economies.”

With the coronavirus pandemic impacting Australia migration, there has been a shortfall in the migration intake for the 2020-21 financial year.

A review of Australia visa classes – for sectors such as hospitality and agriculture – might be considered. Reliant on temporary visa holders to a significant extent, such sectors have been hardest hit.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economic estimates a shortage of around 22,000 workers in the horticulture sector alone.

PM Morrison also stated the possibility of tailoring the existing Australia visa conditions for meeting the workforce demands of the regional areas in Australia.   “Those conditions can help us direct where people can go, which can ease pressures in metropolitan areas but hopefully ease pressures in regional areas.”

Earlier, among the submissions to a Senate enquiry – established before the COVID-19 pandemic – was one by the Settlement Council of Australia. The enquiry was set up with the aim of examining the temporary migration system of Australia and its impact on the Australian economy.

Warning against an “over-reliance” on temporary migration, the submission by the Settlement Council of Australia laid down that “Permanent migration, and clear and transparent pathways to permanency for temporary migrants, facilitate improved settlement outcomes.”

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