Immigration Policy

In reply to the Hon. S.L. GAME ().29 April 2025).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State):

The Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy has advised:

1. The South Australian government has been investing in subsidised Course in Electrician—Minimum Australian Context Gap places for electrical skilled migrants since 2012.

PEER is committed to delivering the course and is currently awaiting Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) approval of scope for the new version of the course to continue delivery.

An individual that has not completed the gap training can apply for a restricted electrical workers registration using an offshore technical skills record. This will enable them to work under supervised conditions. A person who has a restricted electrical workers registration can perform any electrical work under the direct supervision of a registered electrical worker.

A workers' registration is valid for three years from the date that the licence is granted. The holder can renew the registration to maintain its currency every three years.

There is no prescribed timeframe that an individual must complete the gap training. Completing the gap training allows for the registration holder to upgrade the conditions and remove the restriction of working under supervision.

2. Table 1: General skilled migration nominations to electricians (*), by program year:

(*) Includes the occupations of Electrician (General) and Electrician (Special Class).

Latest publicly available data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) indicates that for the period 2015 to 2023 there were 210 Course in Electrician—Minimum Australian Context Gap program enrolments in South Australia (Source: NCVER National VET Provider Collection 2023 – Total VET Activity Program enrolments).

The most recent tranche of electricians completed their course in February 2025.

3. No.

The South Australian government's policy for the general skilled migration program is that applicants must be able to demonstrate skilled employment in their nominated or closely related occupation to be eligible for state nomination. Nominated skilled migrant electrical workers can commence work in skilled jobs in their field of expertise under supervised conditions with a restricted electrical workers registration.

4. Questions regarding the cost of the Deloitte Access Economics report should be directed to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

5. Yes. Since March 2022, the South Australian government has implemented a series of actions and initiatives to support the local building and construction industry through skilled migration. This includes:

Developing a partnership with Master Builders SA through the Build Connect program, to connect skilled migrants with employers in the building and construction industry.  

Negotiating with the Australian government for the addition of 27 new construction and trades occupations to the South Australian regional workforce DAMA.

Prioritising construction trades workers through the state nominated general skilled migration program and negotiating priority visa processing with the Australian government.

Increasing the supply of skilled tradespeople from overseas through international webinars and visits to key markets such as the United Kingdom.