Skilling South Australia

Mr MURRAY (Davenport) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister update the house on how the state government is growing our skilled workforce and strengthening the economy?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:42): Yes, I can. Thank you very much to the member for Davenport for his interest in skills in South Australia. Our challenge, of course, is to build a workforce with the skills to propel our economy into the future. Under Skilling South Australia, we are helping more people get the skills and qualifications they need to build careers. In any modern economy, there are some skills and levels of experience that we need right now but we simply don't have. Critical skills shortages are holding back economic growth, exports and employment in South Australia. The Marshall Liberal government is ensuring that our workforce is skilled and equipped to meet industry's demand.

On Friday, I addressed industry at a CEDA event, outlining our initiatives to grow South Australia's skilled workforce, particularly crucial as our economy rapidly diversifies into new and emerging industries like defence, space, digital, cybersecurity, health and ageing, and of course, renewable energy. There are many businesses, particularly in rural and regional areas, that want to grow and expand but struggle to attract the skills that they require, particularly in agriculture, food production, tourism and aged care.

We heard the great announcement this morning in this house about Thomas Foods: 2,000 South Australians being offered jobs over the coming years. Production is starting at the end of next year. I am pleased that as a department we have been working with Thomas Foods in order to help them train their existing staff and potential staff. I also visited the Minister for Transport's electorate to visit engineering firm, Ahrens. I heard about their skills programs—40 apprentices and trainees. They want more but they don't have enough tradespeople to employ more apprentices and trainees.

Skilled migration can of course breathe new life into the economy and local communities by introducing much-needed capabilities and experience that is currently lacking. New Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) will help increase our local skills base, create jobs and fill workforce skills gaps. Local businesses will be able to sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions that they are unable to fill with local workers, assisting them to expand their businesses and create new local employment opportunities.

The DAMA program, which commences on 1 July, comprises two agreements: the Adelaide Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement and the South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement, which covers the entire state. Concessions to standard visa requirements, such as pathways to permanent residency, will help employers attract the right people. Concessions under the DAMAs recognise local salary rates and cost of living, allowing employers to respond to local market conditions.

It's important to understand that migrants will never be paid less than local workers doing the same work. Conditions of employment for overseas workers must be in accordance with those offered to Australian workers. It might surprise many in this chamber that even superannuation payments are a requirement for migrant workers. Many employers will tell you how much more expensive it is to actually go overseas for workers—they would much rather find those workers here—but many of them are forced to do so in order for their business to grow. They can employ more local South Australians as they have the right skills in place.

Employers must demonstrate that they can't get a local worker for the job and that that job can't be filled by an apprentice or a trainee. We welcome skilled migrants as a critical part of supplementing our ageing workforce, meeting skills shortages and increasing our population. DAMAs will help South Australia attract the skills we need to grow our economy and to mentor and develop the next generation of workforce here in South Australia.