A CUT to Australia’s migrant intake could have an impact on regional cities like Tamworth which often need skilled foreign workers to fill workplace gaps, one advocate has said.
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It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed to cut immigration numbers and claimed roads, schools and public transport were under too much pressure.
Multicultural Tamworth migrant advocate Juanita Doody said the issue had been over-simplified and it was “naive” to make a statement about what’s happening in the city without consulting regional areas.
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“It’s more complex than what’s made out to be very simple matter,” she said.
She said an overall cut to intake would effect regional areas where skilled regional visa holders fill gaps in the workforce.
She said it had prompted an overreaction from the PM and premier, who have both called to ease migration intake, focusing on metro over-population.
“Why can’t we look for a solution or look to process people properly,” she said.
Ms Doody said regional areas would need continued population growth to help warrant infrastructure investment and that migrants were creating businesses and jobs in the bush.
Overseas migration played a key part in Tamworth’s population expansion in 2017, making up 68 per cent (379 people) of the LGA’s net growth.
While the PM suggested the migration intake would need to be slashed, he said the workforce would decline without foreign workers.
“Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, the Productivity Commission has found that migration confers no negative outcome to employment for those who are Australian born,” Mr Morrison said.
“In fact, it increases opportunity for Australians.
“But we must do our homework first and make sure this is implemented in a way that does not disadvantage those states that are looking for greater growth and that we have the mechanisms in place to direct new migrants to the areas where there are the jobs, services and opportunities.”