Engineers warn against across-the-board reductions in skilled migration program
With an estimated shortage of 28,000 engineering professionals in Australia, Engineers Australia says that any proposals to cut Australia’s skilled migration program need to be carefully targeted to avoid further impacts to the skills base needed to underpin major spending on infrastructure.
The Chief Executive of Engineers Australia, Peter Taylor, said, “At a time when Australian governments are relying on fast-tracking major infrastructure programs to stimulate economic activity, and offset private sector funding constraints caused by the global financial crisis, it would be most ill-advised to cut-back skills that Australia must have to underpin that urgent economic strategy.
“The Federal Government’s initiative to accelerate consideration of recommendations from Infrastructure Australia and others and make early use of the infrastructure funds is the right way to go. However, such a sound initiative would be jeopardised if any proposal to cut Australia’s skilled migration program were undertaken across-the-board.
“The less than adequate size of Australia’s professional engineering skills base across Australia has long been identified as a barrier to implementing infrastructure programs aimed at economic development and increasing our economic competitiveness.
“The skilled migration program has been a key plank to overcoming this hurdle until such time as
education reforms are able to deliver essential increases in domestic engineering graduates.
“Now, more than ever, Australia does not need cut-backs in skills sectors like engineering that
are critical to Australia’s economic certainly,” Peter Taylor said.
Further Information: John Bright – 0407 234 490 – jbright@engineersaustralia.org.au
Engineers Australia is the common name of the Institution of Engineers, Australia with a membership of over 86,000
