Dear subscribers,

 

Populate or perish, that is the question that faces South Australia now more than ever.

 

Like it or loathe it, the time has come for our state to have a mature discussion about growing our population. Population growth creates a wide-array of economic benefits and has the potential to enhance job security and create new employment and training opportunities for future generations of South Australians - helping us stop the dreaded 'brain drain' of our state's best and brightest.

 

In the recent Federal Budget, it was eluded to that future Federal funding to Australian states general hospitals will be based on CPI and population growth. The Australian Bureau of Statistics explains CPI as a measure of inflation of household goods, and as we all know population growth is a measure of the change in population; measuring births, deaths and net migration. 

 

According to ABS data, South Australia's population growth rate measures at 0.9%p.a, half the national average of 1.8%. This figure makes South Australia the slowest-growing mainland state in Australia, and second only to Tasmania overall (0.2%). Meanwhile, Western Australia's population growth rate powers ahead at an astounding 3.3%, a significant contributing factor to their booming economy. 

 

South Australian premier Jay Weatherill says SA is going to lose funding as a result of the recent Federal Budget. If the future model for funding distribution is indeed to be based on population growth, he is correct.

 

So what can we do about it? I believe that now more than ever we need a serious discussion about population growth in SA. Looking at these statistics, it takes South Australia approximately five-and-a-half years to experience the same level of population growth and economic related activity as leading states such as Western Australia experience in just one year. 

 

As our population growth is half the national average, does this mean we will only receive half the national average when it comes to future Federal funding, and WA will receive twice the average amount? Possibly so.

 

I have expressed my concern to the Premier and Opposition Leader and will be writing to business leaders outlining my calls for a population debate for South Australia. I will be sure to let you know what response I receive. 

 

All the best,

 

Mark Glazbrook

 

In this Episode of Migration Matters, we catch up with Philip Sutherland from the South Australian branch of the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) to discuss the importance of migration to the construction industry.

Among the points raised, Philip refers to the need for a strong and flexible migration program in order to assist his industry's members cope with impending skill shortages.

He also calls on the State Government to do more to attract migrants to South Australia, and in particular regional areas where the potential for development is significant.

Click here for the interview.  

Listed below are the top five immigration stories posted on the Migration Solutions social media platforms this month.

  

  

1.  'Employers will struggle to fill 3500 vacancies in Adelaide's North'

 - The Messenger                                                      

  

2. 'Businesses want language standards cut from visas'

- The Australian                                            

  

3. 'Honest toilet cleaner gets to keep $80,000'          

 - The Herald Sun

  

4. 'Government welcomes court ruling on measure to combat visa fraud'

  

5. 'Does Australia make it hard for Chinese tourists to apply for a visa?''

  

                                                 

  

Our staff member of the month of February is Susan Mulder.

  

Susan is our Migration Coordinator at Migration Solutions, and specialises in processing all of our corporate cases here at the company. 

  

Prior to working at Migration Solutions, Susan was a trained lawyer in her native country of South Africa. She worked in this role for 10 years, with many of the skills she practiced and developed there being directly transferrable to her current work. Susan is mad cricket fan, and loves nothing more than when South Africa beats Australia so she can tease the rest of us around the office about it.

See below to visit Susan's staff profile, and learn more about her experience and professional background.                                                  

  

If you are an employer sponsoring an international worker, you are legally required to comply with various sponsor obligations in order to be allowed to employ that worker. 

  

For details regarding these obligations, follow the links below.