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

I thank the senator for his very astute question. The states and territories, of course, are big users of skilled migration. They recognise their need for more people. They recognise they need people in the factories doing engineering work, in hospitals and in almost every facet of life. They have taken the opportunity to work with the Australian government to try and shape the population that goes to their state. Different states have a different emphasis on different industries and different needs at any one time, which is why the Australian government has been determined over the last few years to work very closely with the state governments and help them get the people they need. I am pleased to say that they have recognised that and they recognise that immigration can build state and territory economies and it can create jobs. In other words, the people on this side of the chamber, to use an expression that the other side of the chamber might understand, are on the tools. We are doing the job. We are out there creating jobs for Australians. Skilled immigration is a part of it.