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MIGRATION SET TO INCREASE

THE AUSTRALIAN Government is confidently expected to boost the country's immigration intake, especially of skilled workers, by around 20,000 workers when the new year's figures to start in July, are released shortly.

This would take the total immigration intake to around 140,000 places in 2005/06 the biggest quota in almost 20 years.

This follows sustained pressure from all sections of commerce and industry, where companies are unable to get enough skilled and professional workers, as Australia's economy continues to boom along and the resources sector cannot dig minerals out of the ground fast enough.

And even Prime Minister John Howard has added his weight to an increase in the migrant intake. "We have an economic need at the moment for more skilled people. You can't generate them out of thin air in Australia," Mr Howard said.

"If part of the solution to that problem is to bring in more skilled migrants then I am in favour of it," he continued.

In Western Australia alone it is estimated that there are at least 5,000 skilled jobs vacant, while local government authorities are short of town planners and other skilled workers. But the West Australian Chamber of Minerals and Energy estimates that between 25,000 and 29,000 extra skilled workers will be needed in the construction phase for planned mining projects in the State.

And the skills shortages are pushing up wages to unknown heights, even for apprentices, with some who have nearly finished their time earning around $90,000 a year.

The Minister for Immigration, Senator Amanda Vanstone is also believed to want an increase of 20,000 workers in the skilled migrant quota.