States turn on Anthony Albanese’s skilled migration overhaul
Premiers have united in opposition to the Albanese government’s plan to slash state-nominated skilled migration by almost a quarter, warning the cuts threaten critical industries.
Migration has emerged as the next point of tension between the Albanese government and the states, with multiple premiers speaking up in opposition of the commonwealth’s plans to rein in the ability of states to seek skilled workers from overseas.
Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia have all voiced concerns about the federal government’s plans to slash the number of individuals allowed to enter the country under the state nominated migration program by almost a quarter, warning that the cuts could cause pressure in key areas such as housing, defence, construction and infrastructure.
While the size of the federal permanent migration program would remain in line with last year, the state nomination allocations for next year have been set at 20,350, down from last year’s figure of 26,260.
WA is shaping up as the state with the biggest reduction, with its allocation set to fall some 32 per cent from 5000 to 3400 places, and WA Premier Roger Cook has already written to Anthony Albanese and Immigration Minister Tony Burke expressing his opposition to the decision.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan – who has long been a vocal critic of the federal government’s introduction of caps on the number of international students allowed to enter the country – on Tuesday indicated Victoria also had concerns about the limits.
“We’ve been clear as a government – whether it’s skilled migrants, whether it’s international students or our strong and proud migrant community more broadly – we welcome them here in Victoria,” she said. “When we know that there are particular industries that continue to face the challenges of skill shortages, we would not want the economy impeded in any way by not being able to attract the best and brightest from coming to work here.”
SA Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Joe Szakacs warned the reduction in the state’s allocation could have implications for the federal government’s flagship AUKUS defence program.
“Building an appropriately skilled workforce in South Australia is crucial to deliver the big investments which will make our state more prosperous for all – including delivering AUKUS and thousands of new homes,” he said.
“South Australia has argued for a reconsideration by the commonwealth of the proposed nomination allocations for 2025-26.”
A spokeswoman for Queensland’s Crisafulli government said skilled migrants were also a part of its plans to address the state’s ongoing labour needs. “With new TAFE centres and apprentice programs we’re developing a homegrown pipeline of skilled workers to play catch-up on Labor’s skills shortage, but of course we still need our share of skilled migration,” the spokeswoman said.
Mr Cook was the first to go public with his criticism of the government’s plans, releasing a copy of the letter he sent to Mr Albanese and Mr Burke last week.
On Monday, he told reporters WA needed a strong skilled migration program to keep up the pace of economic growth, and particularly in its housing, defence and mining sectors.
“Western Australia’s economic trajectory is unique in the country. We are the strongest economy in the nation, we want to continue to make sure that we’re the strongest economy in the nation by continuing to diversify our economy,” he said.
“As that process takes place, we need more people with skills.”
The pushback against the migration plans is just the latest area of conflict between the states and the Albanese government, following a concerted campaign in recent weeks by premiers, treasurers and health ministers against the commonwealth’s handling of aged care and health funding.
The states are also aggressively lobbying the commonwealth over its review into the way the GST is shared around the country, while Mr Cook was central in the Prime Minister’s decision to abandon the Nature Positive reforms of former environment minister Tanya Plibersek in the lead-up to the May federal election.
Appearing in Perth on Tuesday, Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said they were aware of the concerns about the state-nominated skilled migrant limits.
Mr Gorman said that while the government would listen to the states’ concerns, having a “systematic, orderly migration system” was always in Australia’s best interest.
“We always look at what is in the national interest when it comes to skilled migration; that’s the obligation that exists on behalf of the government and that’s how we approach all these things,” Mr Gorman said, adding: “We’re always happy to hear the views of states and territories about what their particular needs are.”
Ms Rishworth said the government was committed to working constructively with state governments on the issue.
Additional reporting: Anthony Galloway, Mackenzie Scott
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