Thread: Migration plan no solution: Beazley (Australia)

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/co ... 02,00.html

Migration plan no solution: Beazley

March 04, 2005

OPPOSITION Leader Kim Beazley has blamed the Federal Government for Australia's economic woes, saying an increased intake of skilled migrants was not the answer.

Prime Minister John Howard this week backed an increase in migration to ease a skills shortage in Australia.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone reportedly wants to increase the migrant intake for one year by 20,000 skilled places in a plan yet to go before Cabinet.

The increase would take the overall migration program to around 140,000 next financial year, making it the biggest intake in almost 20 years.

But Mr Beazley said today that accepting more skilled overseas workers was not a solution.

"Turning on the migration tap is no substitute for training young Australians," he said.

"We've got slow growth because this government dropped the ball on training young Australians and Australians generally in skills.

"That is, they are directly responsible for the fact that we now confront an economic double whammy of growth slowing and interest rates rising."

The Reserve Bank this week announced it would increase interest rates by 0.25 of a percentage point to 5.5 per cent.

Health insurance premiums also look set to rise, and Health Minister Tony Abbott refused to rule out future hikes.

"The Liberal Government and John Howard and (Treasurer) Peter Costello owe the Australian people an explanation as to how, after nine years, they've got into this situation," Mr Beazley said.

"We need to get this government to explain why it dropped the ball on training and allowed this situation to develop."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/co ... 02,00.html

Migration plan no solution: Beazley

March 04, 2005

OPPOSITION Leader Kim Beazley has blamed the Federal Government for Australia's economic woes, saying an increased intake of skilled migrants was not the answer.

Prime Minister John Howard this week backed an increase in migration to ease a skills shortage in Australia.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone reportedly wants to increase the migrant intake for one year by 20,000 skilled places in a plan yet to go before Cabinet.

The increase would take the overall migration program to around 140,000 next financial year, making it the biggest intake in almost 20 years.

But Mr Beazley said today that accepting more skilled overseas workers was not a solution.

"Turning on the migration tap is no substitute for training young Australians," he said.

"We've got slow growth because this government dropped the ball on training young Australians and Australians generally in skills.

"That is, they are directly responsible for the fact that we now confront an economic double whammy of growth slowing and interest rates rising."

The Reserve Bank this week announced it would increase interest rates by 0.25 of a percentage point to 5.5 per cent.

Health insurance premiums also look set to rise, and Health Minister Tony Abbott refused to rule out future hikes.

"The Liberal Government and John Howard and (Treasurer) Peter Costello owe the Australian people an explanation as to how, after nine years, they've got into this situation," Mr Beazley said.

"We need to get this government to explain why it dropped the ball on training and allowed this situation to develop."