Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth could not explain why trade workers remain in a lower priority tier despite the housing crisis.<\/p>\n
Under Australia’s current skilled migration scheme, occupations are split into four priority tiers, with tradies placed in the third tier alongside economists, actors, dancers and animal trainers.<\/p>\n
Host Natalie Barr put her on the spot, asking why they sit in that tier.<\/p>\n
Ms Rishworth did not directly answer the question.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Well, obviously we get our advice around the professional list from experts, but I would say that I do agree that we do need to see more skilled tradies in our country,” she said.<\/p>\n
She instead pointed to Labor’s record, saying the number of construction workers had tripled and skills recognition had been fast-tracked for an additional 20,000 workers.<\/p>\n
Shadow defence minister James Paterson, who appeared alongside Ms Rishworth, said the government had indicated tradesmen are “equally as important” to them as actors.<\/p>\n
“Only a Labor government would think, in the middle of our worst housing crisis, that economists, animal trainers and actors are equally as important to bring to Australia as tradies,” he said.<\/p>\n
Ms Rishworth rejected the claim, saying that was “absolutely not the case”.<\/p>\n
Unconvinced, Barr pressed the minister on why the priority list had not changed despite Australia’s housing crisis, and if the other occupations should drop down a tier.<\/p>\n
“So why don’t you drop the others down a tier? Would that work?” she said.<\/p>\n
“Why hasn’t it changed in four years?”<\/p>\n
Ms Rishworth again pointed to expert recommendations and Labor’s increase in construction workers, without directly addressing whether the rankings should change.<\/p>\n
The calls to prioritise trade workers come as Australia faces mounting pressure to boost its construction workforce amid fresh warnings of a shortage of construction workers.<\/p>\n