Australian Immigration News

Foreign Workers to Be Welcomed to Australian Northern Territory

Australia's Northern Territory is now allowed to welcome overseas workers after its government reached a migration agreement with Immigration Minister Chris Bowen and the Federal government, which is considered a positive step to help fill the Territory's skill shortage.

Australia's Northern Territory is facing a labour shortage due to the resources boom. According to Treasurer Delia Lawrie, the multi-billion dollar Ichthys gas plant alone would require nearly 20,000 extra workers over the next four years. The Territory would still be short of workers even after training locals and recruiting people from interstate, she said.

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen agreed to negotiate a migration agreement for skilled workers with the Northern Territory before other states. The new regional migration agreement will help the Territory fill its skill shortage using workers from overseas. That agreement will be especially helpful for smaller Australian businesses which lose workers over the next five years to the resources boom, the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce indicated.

According to Chamber Chief Executive Officer Chris Young, the new system should be faster and easier than the 457 visa application process for temporary overseas workers. The new scheme would speed up the application process and shorten the process to no more than three months. Smaller employers, who can demonstrate that they have genuinely tried to find local employees, will be able to enter the Australian immigration market and very quickly get an approval to bring in foreign staff, Mr Young said.