Answers to Questions

SKILLED MIGRANTS

79 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (30 September 2008). What action is the government taking to ensure that skilled migrants to South Australia have the necessary skills that business is demanding?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change): The Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) has provided the following information:

The Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) is responsible for the Migration program and grants visas accordingly. To ensure at the national level that skills meet business needs DIAC maintains a Skilled Occupation List for skills across Australia. This list determines what occupations are eligible for skilled migration.

DTED, through Immigration SA, provides sponsorships to skilled migrants to facilitate visas granted by DIAC. Sponsorships are provided based on, among other criteria, the skills in demand by business in South Australia.

The list of skills in demand is developed annually in conjunction with the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), utilising:

An assessment of the number of job opportunities over the next five years arising from growth in the economy, the retirement of older workers and major projects;

Identification of those occupations likely to be in under supply on average over the next five years;

An assessment of the likely supply of labour from migration and the training system (VET and Higher Education);

Consideration of those occupations assessed by the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as being in shortage or appropriate for migration (listed on the Migration Occupations in Demand List);

The current level of employment in the occupation; and

Advice from Industry (through Industry Skill Boards) on occupations in demand suitable for migration.

The Government through DTED and Immigration SA also certifies regional temporary employer visa sponsorships. As these visas are sponsored by the employer, they directly reflect skills in demand by business.