Visa rules top of regional agenda

THE Geelong region’s leaders have pinpointed international workers as the solution to its skilled worker shortage, and have lobbied the federal government to loosen visa rules to boost its labour force.

A delegation of local government leaders from the G21 region visited Canberra last week to push for the changes to address a “dire” problem across the greater Geelong and Surf Coast region.

The group sat in 18 meetings during the week including with Deputy Prime Minister and Corio MP Richard Marles, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson, and local MPs Libby Coker and Dan Tehan.

G21 wants a permanent policy change to the Working Holiday Maker visa so workers can stay with an employer for up to 12 months instead of six.

The government extended the duration to 12 months in January 2022, but the program is scheduled to revert to six months from July 1 this year.

The region could be 18,000 workers short in critical sectors by 2025 unless the government enacts urgent policy action, City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said.

“One of the most pressing issues is the region’s dire skills and worker shortage. We are desperately in need of teachers especially in vocational training, childcare, healthcare, hospitality, council services and manufacturing workers,” he said.

Borough of Queenscliffe mayor Isabelle Tolhurst said the region had welcomed back a quicker-than-expected rebound from COVID-19, but that staff numbers had not matched the rapid pace.

“Our hospitality sector is especially under pressure. In Geelong and on the Bellarine, the tourism spend has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but this has been achieved with a 57 per cent reduction in jobs, which is unsustainable,” she said.

“Staff burnout and turnover is high, opening hours are inconsistent and the quality of service is at risk of being compromised by the strain.”

Surf Coast mayor Liz Pattison said extending the visa would provide businesses with more stability and help attract workers to the region.

“The Working Holiday Maker visa also allows workers in some industries to stay two to three years and we are urging the government to include hospitality in this category.”

Population growth, affordable worker and social housing shortages, digital connectivity and the need for federal funding for the Commonwealth Games were also on the regional alliance’s agenda last week G21 chief executive officer Giulia Baggio said.

G21 represents the five municipalities of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Queenscliff, Colac Otway and Golden Plains.