Coalition will work with Hotels Association on migration
The hospitality sector has 12,000 chef and cook positions vacant right now, it's also in desperate need of restaurant and hotel managers
In a pre-dawn Canberra meeting on Friday May 17, the Australian Hotels Association outlined its concerns with the Federal Opposition’s plan to cut permanent migration by 25 percent.
AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson and AHA Senior Vice President David Basheer met at 6.30 am for an hour’s meeting with Shadow Minister for Immigration Dan Tehan MP to work through the AHA’s issues.
It was agreed any migration skills list needs to have a clear focus on where the real shortages are, and that the Coalition would work with the AHA and Accommodation Australia in the finalisation of its migration and workforce policies.
Mr Ferguson said the hospitality sector was facing real challenges – especially in the regions.
“The hospitality sector has 12,000 chef and cook positions vacant right now – we are also in desperate need of restaurant and hotel managers to name a few,” he said.
“To put it simply there just aren’t enough Australians now to fill these jobs – let alone when Governments lower the migration intake even further.”
Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson warned of possible restaurant closures.
“If the hospitality and accommodation sectors can’t get access to the skills they need, this will mean even more hotel restaurants closed on more days of the week unfortunately,” Mr Johnson said.
“That leads to a loss of productivity and lost employment opportunities.”
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