Australian Resources and Energy Group AREEA warmly welcomes the Morrison Government today expanding the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) to include several high-skilled occupations in critically low supply across the industry.
Many of the 22 new occupations added to the PMSOL, most notably chefs and mining, petroleum and geotechnical engineers, are in severe shortage in Australia’s resources and energy industries, threatening to put a handbrake on Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s announcement may well prove to be a turning point in Australia’s skills crisis,” AREEA CEO Steve Knott AM said.
“Australia’s resources and energy industry has been firing on all cylinders throughout the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of dedicated Australian employees have kept our industry among the most productive and prosperous in the world.
“However, prolonged closed borders to the small pool of international skilled migrants that supplement our domestic workforces has wreaked havoc on Australia’s resources industry, as it has most others.
“AREEA’s members have been reporting worsening skills shortages that have threatened to cripple our national recovery from the pandemic’s crushing economic impacts. Significant data and evidence have been provided to government at all levels about these serious skills issues for well over a year.
“We congratulate the Morrison Government for today acting on the urgent advice of industry and broadening the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) to include an additional 22 occupations all of which have clear evidence on their importance to supporting the Australian economy.
“Today’s announcement also puts into effect key findings of the interim report of the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s Skilled Migration Program, which has been hearing evidence from government, industry and unions for several months.
“The next step is for government to urgently formulate a roadmap to both domestic and international reopening. A clear roadmap will provide the business community with certainty and confidence to plan for future investment and employment opportunities.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Thompson | 0409 781 580 | [email protected]
