How migration changes could affect the workforce of Townsville
The Ville’s CEO is among industry leaders to warn of the impacts that migration cuts will have on local workforce and service delivery.
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Ardo employee Chihiro Suzuki enjoys the tranquil sunsets from the restaurant she works at while soaking in the North Queensland lifestyle.
Townsville is vastly different from her marketing role in Tokyo, but she considers the regional city a charming stay during her Australian adventure, because she is able to work in a five-star hotel while fulfilling her regional Visa requirements.
But as the Federal Government reviews regional migration policies, industry leaders have voiced concerns that the changes could negatively impact Townsville’s regional advantage to attract working holiday makers such as Ms Suzuki.
They believe there’s a real risk that there will be a change to a category system which could lump the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast with Townsville.
The Ville Resort-Casino’s chief executive Michael Jones warned that planned cuts to migration of about half the current rate could also create workforce shortages in the regions.
Visa changes had already had an impact on the Townsville educational sector, as James Cook University recently reported a $16m shortfall in its budget due to limitations on international students, while more recently it decided to close its Townsville CBD campus.
But there was also an impact on the hospitality sector as well as broader economic growth.
Mr Jones said working holiday makers were essential to the company’s workforce numbers, with more than 15 per cent employed under the working holiday scheme, while making up 20 per cent of employees who worked directly with patrons and guests.
Those ratios would be severely impacted if the proposed policy changes came into effect.
“Their international experience is highly valued,” Mr Jones said.
“We saw during COVID the impact on the hospitality sector when we don’t have access to migrants.
“We have tried to hard to employ local, but it just doesn’t work.
“Migrants are an essential part of ensuring our business stays open, and without the contributions of migrants, we would not have been able to open Ardo late last year.”
Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said Townsville’s ability to attract international students and migrants were significant to the region’s growth.
She said there were $33bn of infrastructure projects lined up for the region within the next five years which would need 20,000 additional skilled workers.
She said the Working Holiday Maker Visa could see changes in the regional status, which meant the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast could draw in those workers.
“With a population of more than 1.1m on the doorstep of these areas, it’s simply not fair to put Townsville in this same category and would be detrimental to industries that rely on these workers.”
“Our recent membership survey indicates that approximately 80% of businesses are employing migrants under one or more visas that would be impacted by this proposed review,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
A Federal Government document discussing the review into regional migration recognised its significance for the economy, but also emphasised the need for holiday opportunity and cultural exchange.
These workers also often spent what they earned in the communities they stayed in.
Working holiday visas had “strongly rebounded” since the borders opened after the pandemic, and the most popular industries were agriculture, fishery and forestry at 49 per cent, and accommodation and food services, at 24 per cent.
“In considering any changes, the government will ensure regional Australia continues to get access to the workforce it needs,” the document said.
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Originally published as How migration changes could affect the workforce of Townsville
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