The federal government is weighing changes to Australia’s permanent migration program, and the building and construction sector is watching closely. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke delayed a planned National Press Club address on migration policy by at least a week, with his office saying some elements of the speech weren’t ready in time.
The government is targeting a permanent migration cap of 185,000 a year, a figure already in the budget papers, The Guardian reports. That total includes about 132,000 skilled migration places and 52,000 partner and family visas. Any cuts to either stream are drawing fire from industry and some within Labor itself.
Master Builders Australia chief executive Denita Wawn warned the datacentre construction boom would need more workers on the tools, and called for tradespeople to be given priority. “Migrant tradies ultimately contribute to far more homes than they consume, especially when they reside here over the long term,” Wawn said.
The Minerals Council of Australia went further, calling on the government to suspend skilled migration changes and consult industry before proceeding. CEO Tania Constable said demand for specialised skills was “already growing faster than migration pathways can adapt”.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKellar said trimming working holidaymakers or cutting family visas would put a dent in the skilled worker pipeline. “The government should proceed with caution, we don’t want to shoot ourselves in the foot,” McKellar said.
Burke’s department has flagged that skilled migrants already in Australia will be given priority for permanent residency. That could lower headline migration numbers while also shrinking the pool of available workers further down the track.
Several Labor backbenchers pushed back too. One MP warned against “performative reductions” in migration driven by a desire to match One Nation’s rhetoric rather than address real labour market needs. “Getting skilled people in from overseas is imperative,” the MP told the ABC.
For tradies and builders, the central question is whether the eventual changes squeeze the skilled visa categories the construction sector relies on, or target other parts of the program. Burke’s address, when it comes, should clarify where the cuts land.
Frequently asked questions
What is Australia’s current permanent migration cap?
The federal government is targeting a permanent migration cap of 185,000 places a year, a figure already included in the budget papers. That breaks down to about 132,000 skilled migration places and 52,000 partner and family visas.
How could the migration changes affect tradies and construction workers?
Industry bodies warn that cuts to skilled visa categories could reduce the pool of available tradespeople, particularly as demand rises from projects like datacentre construction. Master Builders Australia is calling for tradespeople to be prioritised within whatever cap is set.
When will Tony Burke announce the migration changes?
Burke delayed a planned National Press Club address by at least a week after his office said some elements weren’t ready. No new date has been confirmed.
Sourced from The Guardian, ABC News, Master Builders Australia, Minerals Council of Australia, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Original article.
