Migration Critical To Future Says ALP
June 12, 2001
Regional migration must be far more in tune with the skill needs of regional areas, Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Regional Services and Population, Martin Ferguson, said today.
"Skilled people, including skilled migrants, are critical to the future of our regional economies," Mr Ferguson told an Australian Population Institute breakfast in Melbourne today.
"Labor is examining ways to attract skilled migrants and businesses (and their families) to the regions, not only to contribute to local economic development but also to break down the misconceptions many people have about immigration.
"Regional areas, particularly our regional centres, offer many advantages for families - in terms of quality of life, safety and security. They are also big enough to offer diversity of opportunities for families.
"Unfortunately, current programs to encourage regional migration are piecemeal, and do not fit in with the broader approach to regional economic development.
"Attracting migrants to our regions must be linked to the broader regional development agenda," Mr Ferguson said.
Mr Ferguson said a Beazley Labor Government would establish a new Office of Population to:
- undertake a wide-ranging inquiry into alternative population scenarios;
- encourage a wider public understanding of population issues;
- examine ways to better coordinate State and Commonwealth efforts to settle skilled migrants in regional Australia;
- assess ways of enhancing delivery of migrant family and community services with particular reference to their location; and
- review the effectiveness of the Commonwealth's skills matching database.
Non-profit groups, local government organisations, community groups, educational institutions and business must also be encouraged to work co-operatively to deliver better, more diverse and efficient settlement services," Mr Ferguson said.
"Our regions can play a greater role in attracting migrants to particular areas according to their particular needs."
Mr Ferguson stressed that maintaining support for regional migration also depended on improving our domestic efforts in skills development.
"To make regional development work for us all, we must be prepared to invest in the skills of those people who are being left behind," he said.
"Skilled migration to fill skills shortages can only work if our data on regional skill shortages is adequate. And regional migration cannot be a substitute for retraining our existing workforce."
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