Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Watt. On my regional tour of WA I heard time and time again about the challenges facing regional WA when it comes to skills shortages. Businesses are struggling to keep their doors and services open to their communities because they just can't get the staff. Small businesses and industry in the Mid West and Gascoyne regions were consulted for months on the skills they need to get by. The results were teachers, truck drivers, accountants, manufacturers—skills that help our regional communities to thrive. A designated area migration agreement was lodged for the Mid West and Gascoyne regions in November last year, but there has been no response. Minister, when will this DAMA be approved so Western Australians in the Mid West and Gascoyne regions can access the skills they so desperately need?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Payman, for the question. I think everyone understands that there are many parts of regional Australia that are experiencing skills shortages at the moment, particularly as a result of the complete collapse in investment in skills and training that we saw over the last 10 years under the coalition government.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know you don't like being reminded of your record, but it is your record. You can't run away from it. You cut funding for skills and training, and now we're paying the price. I'm sorry, but it's true. I acknowledge that Western Australia, including regional Western Australia, is one of the states that is seeking more skilled workers. Of course, the government's primary vehicle for dealing with that issue is our investment in fee-free TAFE, because we do want to make sure that Australians have the skills and training required to take up the jobs that are on offer, whether they be in regional Australia or more broadly.

Of course, we can't meet all of our labour needs—our workforce needs—through domestic workers, and that's why the government, through the Department of Home Affairs, does enter into designated area migration agreements. As I'm sure Senator Payman is aware, the way in which they operate is that there is a formal agreement between the Department of Home Affairs and a regional, state or territory authority. They provide access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration programs, and I am aware that there are particular regions in the country that do seek access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration programs.

In terms of this specific request, I'm advised that there is a longstanding practice of the government of the day to not comment or disclose details of groups, individuals or companies that have ongoing visa matters before the Department of Home Affairs, but I will take the senator's question on notice and provide an update in due course.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, first supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, these delays are severely impacting the Mid West and Gascoyne regions. We've lost output of over $800 million. This DAMA affects 20 local governments in Western Australia, from Exmouth to Three Springs, and these delays are taking a toll. With this in mind, will the minister now consider the Mid West and Gascoyne DAMA as a matter of urgency/

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Payman, for the question. As I've indicated, I'm happy to take the question on notice and provide an update to the senator in due course. But, in the meantime, I can provide a little bit more information about the work that is going on through our fee-free TAFE program to meet some of the needs of both Western Australian employers and employees.

In fact, in Western Australia the most enrolled-in fee-free TAFE courses to 31 March this year included the certificate III in early childhood education and care, with 2,740 enrolments, the certificate III in individual support, with 1,896 enrolments, and the diploma of nursing, with 1,527 enrolments. Obviously, there were many other areas—technology and digital and a range of other areas—but I think it is important to note that the types of skills being sought in regional areas often aren't necessarily in mining or some of the major industries; they're in the services sector and the care sector, and they are what that fee-free TAFE program is helping to deliver.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, second supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I look forward to receiving an extensive response to the question on notice. Will the minister join me in meeting with impacted industries and small businesses of the Mid West and Gascoyne regions when cabinet visits WA in September?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Payman. Of course, I'm not going to commit another minister to a particular meeting. That probably wouldn't be a very well-received thing to do. But I'm sure Minister Burke will consider your request. I know that he is very deeply engaged in his portfolio since taking it on a couple of weeks ago, and I know that, like all of us—all of the cabinet and all of the ministry—he is very much looking forward to going to Western Australia, a state that we know expressed a lot of support for a Labor government at the last federal election and that we have maintained regular contact with, either because, in some cases, we live there or because we visit there regularly. So I'm sure Minister Burke, like all of us, will be very keen to be at the cabinet meeting, and I'm sure he'll take up your request and consider it.