25 October 2012
THE national resource industry has today reaffirmed the small, but important role temporary skilled migration plays in securing resource projects in Australia and generating widespread local employment and economic opportunities.
Resource industry employer group AREEA says calls to scrap EMAs fail to recognise that such a move would jeopardise thousands of future employment opportunities for Australians and highlighted that the industry’s employment growth has nearly tripled that predicted by the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce (NRSET) in June 2010.
AREEA’s comments come ahead of today’s Senate Committee hearing into Greens MP Adam Bandt’s Protecting Local Jobs (Regulating Enterprise Migration Agreements) Bill 2012.
“The Greens’ Bill misses the point of the EMA program and will only add unnecessary regulation on employers. It’s important that industry stakeholders consider the broader implications of this Bill before backing it,” AREEA spokesperson Tara Diamond says.
“Despite much commentary about a small number of project deferrals, Australia still has in excess of $500 billion worth of resources projects either committed or awaiting approval. The biggest challenge for the resource industry is to ensure we have the arms and legs required to build and operate projects that have an unprecedented demand for skilled workers.
“More than 95% of resource and related construction roles are held by Australian workers. ABS labour force figures show an additional 53,000 more Australian workers are employed in resources jobs than this time last year.”
Ms Diamond says the decision to engage in temporary migrant labour is only undertaken as a last resort to address critical skills shortages that cannot be met by the local labour market.
“The existing parameters of the EMA program already ensure the vast majority of job opportunities go to Australians and skilled migrants are only used for temporary positions to get projects built on time and on budget,” she says.
“The answer to this skills challenge is not simple. Demand is stronger than ever for skilled tradespeople and professionals who are essential to getting these projects up and running.
“This debate around temporary migration comes as industry commits more funding and resources to initiatives dedicated to getting Australian people involved in resources employment. Take for instance the AREEA Skills Connect project, launched only yesterday at the AREEA West Coast Conference.
“AREEA Skills Connect sees the resource industry partner with leading industry bodies, training institutions and direct employers across the various construction disciplines to create a single point of access into resources-related construction roles for Australian workers and apprentices.
“This is just one of many examples of workforce development initiatives that ensure Australians are receiving the benefits of this great resources opportunity. But we need to embrace the role temporary migrant workers have in delivering this opportunity, not ostracise them with divisive comments.”
AREEA’s submission to the Senate Committee Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation on the Protecting Local Jobs (Regulating Enterprise Migration Agreements) Bill 2012 can be viewed here.
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