The Victorian Government yesterday confirmed that it will be writing to the Federal Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke, to request additional state nomination visa places for regional Victoria, and the regions may have Mildura to thank.
Just prior to Christmas, local businessman Baljinder Sandhu brought to Ms Cupper’s attention a significant disparity in the amount of regional skilled visa workers requested by Victoria compared with other states.
Ms Cupper took that issue to the State Government, who are now requesting additional skilled migrant workers to help plug acute worker shortages, particularly in hospitality and retail.
“We pointed out that of the 4,000 visa holders who can work in Victoria each year, only 500 are required to work in regional Victoria,” she said.
“It’s a staggeringly low figure, as Tasmania gets 2,200 regional placements a year, SA gets 2,600 and NSW gets 3,640.
“More places in the 491 visa program would be a windfall for our region, helping local businesses source the people needed across a wide range of occupations including chefs, cooks, pastrycooks, bakers, café and restaurant managers, hotel and motel managers and customer service managers.”
A worker shortage forum hosted by Ms Cupper this week also provided an opportunity to inform local business of Government supports that were already available but might not be well known.
It also identified new ways the Government could assist, including providing financial support to workers in industries that are subject to re-imposed density limits, and reviewing regulations for school-based apprenticeships that exclude students from fields like baking where work occurs outside typical business hours.
“The Government and Departmental representatives in attendance were responsive to these ideas and keen to explore them further. I will keep the pressure up,” Ms Cupper said.
“This is a crisis that was prompted by the pandemic, but local businesses say we cannot assume that it will go away when the pandemic goes away.
“We need to accept this will be chronic problem that requires strong and sustainable interventions by Government for the long-term.”
