Former Labor Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson puts out the welcome mat for overseas workers
FORMER Labor MP Martin Ferguson is urging Australia to allow more foreign workers to fill jobs in the tourism industry.
A report released today has warned that there will need to be an extra 123,000 workers to cater to demand in the tourism industry over the next five years.
Mr Ferguson, who is now chair of Tourism Accommodation Australia, called on the Federal Government to allow more workers to come here on 457 and working holiday visas.
The former Australian Council of Trades Union president told the Herald Sun that the local workforce would not be able to meet demand for the expansion in the industry.
“The first priority is employing Australians because its cheaper than bringing people from overseas,” he said.
He said that migrant workers, particularly those on working holiday visas, were good for the economy.
“Overseas workers come for 12 to 24 months and they spend what they make,” he said.
But ACTU president Ged Kearney said the new jobs in the tourism industry should go to local unemployed people, not foreigners.
“I am thrilled that the tourism industry is looking to employ 120,000 people in the next five years, but expect those jobs will go to some of the 800,000 people currently unemployed in this country,” she said.
“We don’t need to bring in temporary visa workers to fill these jobs, we need to encourage the hotel operators to hire the unemployed hospitality workers who can’t get a job now.
“And this is a great opportunity to train more staff to work in these jobs as they come on line in the coming years.”
More than 10,000 hotel rooms are under construction in Australia, with tourist numbers expected to rise six per cent per year.
Total tourist numbers were expected to hit 10 million in 2023.
Source: Herald Sun, Stephen, Drill, 4th November 2015
Originally published as: Former Labor Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson puts out the welcome mat for overseas workers
