Boom city calls for migrants

News - Migration Escrito por Administrator Quinta, 05 Agosto 2010 06:05

The Australian Financial Review (July 31 – August 1, 2010)

Report: Mark Ludlow

The Australian federal government report has predicted shortfalls of 36000 tradespeople, 1700 engineers and 3000 geoscientists over the next five years.

Mackay mayor Col Meng believes any move to reduce immigration levels will only damage the resurgent resources boom. “I think [migrants] are needed and they will be needed forever and a day no matter what political party is in power”, Mr Meng told the Weekend AFR. “We need to look at it smartly and bring in migrants that are employable and have a trade. But I think it’s important we keep the 457 visas going and we keep bringing people in.”

His comments came after Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche criticised both major parties during the week for their “absolute silence” on who would fill the estimated 45,000 new construction jobs in the mining sector over the next few years.

Mr Meng said while economic activity had slowed last year as companies assessed the impact of the global financial crisis, the surge in activity from mines in the Bowen Basin was back on in earnest.

The resurgence was on display in Mackay during the week as 11,000 miners, suppliers and industry representatives converged on the biennial Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition (QME). The event, which is seen as a good barometer of the health of the resources sector, had delivered a $10 million boost to the local economy.

Mackay is based in the marginal Labor seat of Dawson (2.6 per cent). The fast-growing regional city is a hub for fly-in, fly-out miners and mining services industries. And while locals might be calling it “boom two”, the mayor reckoned the demand for the state’s coal would be one never-ending boom.