The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has called for Australia’s migration debate to return to first principles, with three parties now putting forward policies that contain elements of concern for small business.
Following the release of the Coalition’s migration plan today, COSBOA CEO Skye Cappuccio said migration settings need to properly reflect the breadth of workers small businesses rely on.
“Small businesses need a migration system that recognises the breadth of their workforce needs. That includes skilled workers, but also the essential workers who help keep businesses operating across hospitality, tourism, agriculture and many other industries,” Ms Cappuccio said.
“With three parties now putting forward migration policies, there are elements in each that raise concerns for small business.
“Rather than focusing on headline migration numbers, we need to return to first principles: what skills and workers does Australia actually need, where are the shortages, and what will the impact be if small businesses cannot access the people they need?”
Ms Cappuccio welcomed the Coalition’s commitment to reverse the ballot system and caps for second and third-year Working Holiday Maker visa extensions.
“COSBOA raised significant concerns when caps on second and third-year working holiday visas were announced because of the potential impact on regional small businesses,” Ms Cappuccio said.
“Removing those caps and providing greater certainty for working holiday makers would be a positive step.
“Working holiday makers are an important part of the workforce for many small businesses in regional Australia, particularly in hospitality, tourism and agriculture.
“We need working holiday makers to see a realistic pathway to a second or third year because that gives them a reason to do that work and stay in regional communities.”
Ms Cappuccio said the Coalition’s focus on skilled migration also needed to recognise the diverse workforce needs of small businesses across the economy.
“It makes sense to prioritise areas where Australia desperately needs workers, but there are small businesses right across the country looking for skilled people who don’t fit neatly into priority areas,” Ms Cappuccio said.
“A regional pub might desperately need a qualified chef. They can’t simply replace that chef with someone from another priority occupation.
“The important thing is that our migration system gets people with the skills we need to the places they’re needed, without leaving small businesses and regional communities behind.”
Ms Cappuccio said the different migration policies now being put forward reinforced COSBOA’s call for a National Migration Summit.
“Migration policy is too important to be decided through short-term political debate,” Ms Cappuccio said.
“We need a National Migration Summit so changes are guided by evidence and data and properly consider the impact on the economy, local communities and small business, not just a headline number.
“Small business needs a seat at the table in any national conversation about the future of Australia’s migration settings.
“We need to understand what our businesses and communities actually need from the migration system, and make sure the settings allow small businesses to access the workers they need to operate and grow.”
