Migration Policy

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:34): My question is to the Premier. Now that the Premier is aware of changes to South Australia's state-nominated visa allocation, what action is he taking? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr WHETSTONE: In the middle of a workforce and skills shortage crisis, the Albanese Labor government has slashed South Australia's 2023-24 state-nominated visa allocations. The skilled nominated visa allocation has reduced from 3,000 in 2022-23 to 1,100, and the skilled work regional visa allocation was reduced from 5,800 in 2022-23 to just 1,200 in 2023-24.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:35): The member is correct in his recitation of the facts of what the Albanese government are proposing to do for migration over the next little while. I appreciate that they are responding in some ways to the challenge of housing and therefore the capacity for people to be welcomed into our country; however, this government is not of the same mind.

We regard having more skilled workers here as being an essential part of developing the workforce and have made representation to the federal government on that basis. There will be a meeting of migration ministers in Melbourne in a few weeks' time at which I will be reiterating our points and also some of the points that were raised yesterday in question time by the member.

The SPEAKER: The member for King, who has been waiting patiently.