JOBS — SKILLED MIGRATION LIST
920. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to the graduate skilled occupation list and the
admission by the minister that it is in fact a pathway to permanent migration
into Western Australia.
(1) Will the
minister now concede this scheme is less about actual labour needs in WA and
more about providing an incentive for foreign students to study here?
(2) Will the
minister advise how this will not impact the employment prospects and wages of
incumbent residents?
(3) Is this
scheme in fact a total betrayal of the government's election pledge to
prioritise Western Australians, as it sponsors foreign nationals to do jobs
that Western Australians could do at a time when unemployment is high and
underemployment higher?
(4) If no to (3), how is this scheme putting Western Australians
first?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. Before I provide the answer, can I send my best wishes to him for his
recent birthday celebrations.
(1) The
purpose of the scheme is to support the growth of the international education
sector in Western Australia by providing a small number of the best and
brightest international university graduates with a pathway to skilled
migration under the existing state-nominated migration program.
(2) The scheme
will be implemented to ensure that only the best and brightest graduates with
qualifications and experience relevant to the needs of the Western Australian
labour market will be selected. The program is capped, which will minimise any
impact on the employment or wages of residents.
(3) No. It
supports the McGowan government's plan to create a more vibrant and
diversified economy with a broader range of industries and jobs.
(4) The scheme
will stimulate the growth of the international education sector and the
diversification of the state's economy. This will create jobs for Western
Australians in a wide range of industries including tourism, food, drink,
accommodation, education and retail.