Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Wentworth for her constructive consultations with the minister. Unfortunately, we can't support these amendments. The amendments that the member seeks to move would allow skilled trades to access the specialist skills pathway, and there's a distinction. As part of this visa there is a specialist skills pathway and a core skills pathway. Those who are working in the trades will be in the core skills pathway. The reason for that distinction is that the Parkinson review recommended the establishment of a high-income, highly skilled specialist pathway for skilled migration. In relation to that, the review stated specifically:

It is our expectation that this group be limited to professional occupations and not generally include the skilled trades.

The government has accepted that recommendation, and this bill reflects the government's adoption of that approach.

Skilled trades will still, however, be eligible for the core skills pathway if their occupation is included on the core skills occupation list. Jobs and Skills Australia have undertaken a thorough consultation regarding that core skills occupation list. They've consulted with businesses, unions, industry associations, the state and territory governments and other stakeholders. They've made a recommendation to the Minister for Home Affairs. The minister is finalising that process, and we'll publish that list soon.

But I would say that the government are committed to ensuring that we support employers who do have requirements for skilled labour in the trades area, particularly in the construction trades. It was reported in estimates this week that 11,349 skilled building workers migrated to Australia over financial year 2023-24. That's the highest number of skilled building workers in 10 years to have come to Australia and double the number that came to Australia under the final year of the coalition government. So we are responding to the needs of employers when it comes to ensuring that we're processing visas for skilled trades workers as quickly as possible to ensure that the construction sector can continue to grow in Australia.

See this speech in context