Government responds positively to NRSET

Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Heather Ridout has welcomed the government’s positive response to the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce (NRSET), stating: “It recognises that we need to strongly lift our efforts to address skill shortages both by sector and across the country if we are to deal with the growing economic impacts of the resources boom.

“It recognises that we need to strongly lift our efforts to address skill shortages both by sector and across the country if we are to deal with the growing economic impacts of the resources boom.

“The report acknowledges the impact the resources sector is having on intensifying capacity constraints and accepts that, while we need to improve training and boost apprenticeships, that alone won't be enough and immigration programs are essential to delivering skilled workers when and where we need them.

“In this regard, the federal government's in-principle introduction of Enterprise Migration Agreements for mega-resource projects should contribute towards helping companies' access overseas skilled workers to meet their workforce needs on what are nationally significant projects.

“Another important area where the government has supported the NRSET recommendations include the commencement of the Critical Skills Investment Fund ($200 m) which is an important step in expanding the funding of skill-based training, on a co-funded basis, according to the needs of the economy. Enterprise funding streams, such as the Enterprise-Based Productivity Places program, have proven to be highly effective.

“The broad range of strategies in the report that identify new and innovative ways to increase workforce participation, particularly by under-utilised groups, will help contribute to the broader debate around addressing skill shortages across the economy. These strategies complement the advice received from Skills Australia,” Ridout said.