Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Employment has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(1) No. The Review which the Honourable Member refers is out of date. The latest review of this labour market was undertaken in May 2014 and is published on the Department's website.

(2) The 2012 report includes this information. It is noted that in 2012, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP was the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

(3) ABS Labour Force Survey data show that employment of accountants rose by 13.7 per cent over the 5 years to May 2014, well above the all occupations average of 7.3 per cent. The Department's Internet Vacancy Index shows the level of advertised vacancies for accountants has fallen over the past five years.

(4) Portfolio responsibility for the Skilled Occupation List rests with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

(5) The Department's submission is publicly available on the former Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency's website atwww.awpa.gov.au/our-work/labour-market-information/skilled-occupation-list/pages/submissions-from-industry-stakeholders.aspx. Portfolio responsibility for the Skilled Occupation List rests with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

(6). The Department of Employment assesses the labour market for many skilled occupations and monitors commentary and information from a wide range of organisations and researchers.

(7) and (8). The Government is aware of information and research from a range of bodies, including Deakin University. While the Honourable Member may be under the misapprehension from the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd Governments that it is appropriate for media speculation or stakeholders such as union bosses to drive government policy, it is not. This Government will carefully consider all research and act in the national interest, not sectional interests.

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