Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

It is very clear, and acknowledged by the senator in his question, that there are areas where there is a skills shortage. I do not think that is denied even by the union movement. Australia is going gangbusters. As Senator Abetz has recently reminded us, we have the lowest unemployment that we have had in some 30 years. For skilled unemployment it is even lower than that. The average that Senator Abetz quotes is for both skilled and unskilled. The skilled unemployment level is down around two per cent. Clearly, we need to bring in skilled workers. Where we do not bring in skilled workers and a business could employ them, that business cannot grow and develop, it cannot make more money, and it does not keep Australian jobs secure.

Senator, I am happy to give you a briefing in relation to some of the companies that have been very direct with us about the consequences of them not being able to bring in additional workers. I will put you onto the meat factory in Western Australia that says that without the additional workers they could not run a second shift. What does that mean? That means that some extra Australians would not get jobs and the company would not be as secure. (Time expired)