[ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 1 September 2005]
5003
I will also touch very briefly on the current status of health services in the Balgo community. Health services in Balgo
have increased substantially in stages in the past three years, and a range of other basic health services have been put in
place in the last year. The Department of Health’s Office of Aboriginal Health contracts comprehensive primary health
care services for the Kutjunka region, including accident and emergency, an outpatients clinic, immunisation, maternal
and child health, screening for infection and disease, management of chronic disease and health promotion. Funding for
the region has doubled from approximately $935 000 in 2001-02 to $1.8 million in this financial year. This increase in
funding has enabled the establishment of a full-time doctor position and additional Aboriginal health worker positions,
and it has increased nursing numbers from two to four in Balgo and from one to two in both Mulan and Billiluna.
Additional attending general medical services and visiting specialist medical and other health professionals, including a
mental health nurse, have been provided for the Kutjunka region. A new regional health clinic at Balgo was completed
this year at a capital cost of $1.8 million, and the Mulan and Billiluna clinics have been refurbished at a cost of
approximately $100 000. The state government funds the local community health committee to employ an
environmental health officer to work with local people on a community development employment program - CDEP - to
provide basic environmental health services. The Shire of Halls Creek is also funded by the government to provide
specialist support for the communities. Total funding is $133 000. The commonwealth Office for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Health also contracts the community health committee to employ a coordinator to develop
community participation and capacity; provide cultural health development, for example, bush medicines; pay
traditional healers - maparn; develop men’s health activities; and employ an Aboriginal health work preceptor to
promote, coordinate and support community-based training of Aboriginal health workers. Funding for 2005-06 is
approximately $650 000, having been nil in 2001-02.
All those things are happening but, despite that, the region has appalling health outcomes. However, there are some
bright elements. Trachoma rates have fallen significantly in recent times, from an average of 30 per cent in Balgo
between 1997 and 2003 down to 22 per cent in 2004. The immunisation rate of children is now 100 per cent, and child
and maternal health service participation rates have risen significantly. These are all matters that I believe need to be
examined. I will certainly give consideration to the matter raised by the member for Dawesville in coming times, and,
hopefully, we can collectively advance the interests of the Aboriginal people in this community.
WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS
Grievance
MR J.N. HYDE (Perth) [9.52 am]: My grievance is to the Minister for State Development. The federal government
must immediately extend backpacker working visas to six months, and end working visa and skilled migration
discrimination against people over 45 years of age. I also believe that the current tax zone allowance, which has been
unchanged since around 1991, discriminates against Western Australia and is out of touch with today’s real
employment needs in Western Australia. Working holiday visas should simply be changed. Currently in my electorate
there are around 23 000 job vacancies, many of which are for skilled workers in the inner city of Perth and elsewhere in
the metropolitan area. One local newspaper cannot get good, extra advertising staff. If a backpacker from Britain
comes into Western Australia with a couple of degrees and experience from all over the world, possibly in Wapping, the
new Fleet Street in London, our newspapers and other employers are unable to employ such skilled employees and
make a profit. Under Australia’s working-backpacker laws, such a backpacker is allowed to work in WA for that one
employer for only three months. She must then pack a swag and head off to Sydney or Melbourne, or one of those
under-performing regional economies in the east, rather than stay in WA. Employers in WA, therefore, are being
doubly discriminated against. Not only do they lose a good worker and the opportunity to make production and profit
quickly, but also they have retraining costs. That is one case involving someone who loves Western Australia and
wants to stay here. I deal with many others in my electorate. Simply doubling the visa term to six months, or extending
it even further, would have a significant impact on Western Australia.
In the past, governments have made much of the tight migration policy that operates in Australia. However, in a time of
global skills shortage it is more important to be regarded as a nation that welcomes migrants, rather than one that puts
them through a complicated migration process with huge constraints. When I was re-elected earlier this year, I reflected
that if I had been trying to enter Australia with the degrees and skills that I have and, I hope, many productive years
ahead of me, I would have been ineligible to migrate to Australia under many visa classes simply because I am over 45
years of age. I understand the concern about migrants becoming dependent on welfare after a short working life;
however, my experience is the opposite. Many other countries do not have this limitation. This area of the current
migration policy should be eased. The WA government should actively advocate for an increase in the age limit of
skilled migrants to at least 50 years. The inner city has a number of backpacking establishments. Although I do not
have the millions of dollars that people such as Malcolm Turnbull have to employ high-flying researchers, and I cannot
present to my Treasurer in a caring and supportive way 280 different options for changing the economy, it is my
analysis that backpacker establishments clearly drive much of Western Australia’s economy. The impact of their
turnover on local businesses is often more significant than that from five-star hotels in inner city areas.
The federal government made a slight change to its migration policy to assist with fruit-picking in the south west.
However, Canberra got it wrong again, as it put a three-month limit on visas granted for fruit-picking. The harvest
5004
[ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 1 September 2005]
season for many primary industries in WA extends beyond three months. There are Vietnamese constituents in my
electorate who have farms in Carabooda. I know that this is also an issue for the members for Geraldton and
Greenough. Tomatoes do not grow for only three months; they have an extended season. Growers who rely on
backpackers and other short-term skilled or hardworking labour need the visas to be valid for more than three months.
The Australian government also does not seem to be doing enough to encourage the one million skilled Australians who
live and work overseas back into the country. The easiest way to fix the shortage of skilled workers in Western
Australia would be to get these people back. One of my classmates rose to be one of the leading radiographers in the
country, and was ultimately at the top of a public hospital in Sydney. Although he was committed to the public health
system, he could not achieve a higher position. His skills were grabbed by companies in Asia that are producing
magnetic resonance imaging machines and other medical equipment. He is now in Singapore earning six times the
salary that he last earned in Australia selling these machines to hospitals in Australia, Asia and Europe. He would
sacrifice that high salary and come back to live in Australia for a lower salary if our taxation system was more
reasonable, and there was an incentive for skilled Australians to return home. These skilled people want the lifestyle,
they want the schooling that is available for their kids, and they want the nuclear-free environment that produces food
and everything else. We are not doing the simple thing to get skilled Australians - one million of them - back to our
country. Another problem exists in my electorate with people selling a lot of meat, chickens and primary produce.
Veterinarian certification is required for chickens to be exported. I know Thai vets who are lined up wanting to come to
WA. However, the rules that apply to the employment of skilled migrants do not reflect the realities in Western
Australia.
MR A.J. CARPENTER (Willagee - Minister for State Development) [9.59 am]: I thank the member for Perth for
his grievance. He raises some interesting issues. The fundamental issue underlying this matter is Western Australia’s
record economic growth, which has created a huge demand for skilled workers. It is critically important that we capture
the opportunities available now for our economy in this rapid expansion. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics’
data show 13 200 job vacancies in Western Australia. We all know the difficulties of trying to find enough skilled
people to fill these vacancies. It is a problem not just for WA; there are 122 000 job vacancies in Australia. We have
very low unemployment and large projects in progress that need more workers.
I completely agree with the member for Perth that the age limit applicable to many visa classes for Australia is too low.
As he said, he is older than 45 and would therefore be ineligible to migrate under some visa classes. I am sure it is not a
personal issue; he is already resident in the country! The age limit of 45 for a range of visa classes is too restrictive.
Given the Prime Minister’s view about people remaining in the work force further into their dotage, the two policy
ideas go together. If the age limit for various skilled migrant visa classes were increased to at least 50, it would be
easier to attract the relevant skilled workers to WA. I support the suggestion that the points awarded for age be
amended. We are in the process of drawing up some letters of advocacy to the federal government on that issue.
About 90 000 visas are issued annually for working holiday-makers visiting Australia. I agree entirely that that group
represents a huge resource. I do not want to always talk about myself, but I managed a backpackers hostel in London in
the early 1980s, imaginatively called “45 Lancaster Gate”, which was the address. I was in the UK on a long-term
holiday-maker’s visa. It was a wonderful experience. I am sure I added much to the British economy through my
efforts. Hundreds of backpackers from all over the world passed through that hostel. I believe backpackers coming to
Australia add more to the local economy than five-star tourists. They spend more, stay longer, engage more with the
community and, very importantly, they return later through business or other interests and support the economy at a
different level altogether. I am reminded of the Balinese economy, for example, which was basically founded on the
strength of Australian backpackers visiting Bali, presenting their experience to the world and returning with their
families for holidays and so on. People like me and my family are classic examples. I agree totally with the member
for Perth on the issue of backpackers. Seasonal work in the horticultural, fishing and tourism industries in WA lasts
much longer than three months. There is no need for a three-month working restriction, particularly in the current
circumstances. Six months or longer should be considered. However, for ease of political digestion, a limit of six
months with a single employer would be much more appropriate for this state. I have recently written to Senator
Vanstone requesting that the conditions of working holiday-maker visas be eased to help fill the many vacancies,
particularly for people who want to work in regional Western Australia in all types of casual work. As many members
will know, a huge influx of international backpackers take on seasonal work in the Ord River area. In many ways that
economy is dependent upon them.
I agree with the member for Perth also that much more needs to be done to promote the voluntary expatriation of
Australians working overseas, and to encourage other potential migrants. The skills migration unit, which my
predecessor Hon Clive Brown established within the Department of Industry and Resources, is continuing a major
overseas campaign that will interface with thousands of potential migrants. The next major event is at the Australian
High Commission in London later this month, where Australian employers, work force agencies, industry associations
and government officers will seek to build skilled migration. Similar expos will follow at Amsterdam, Berlin and
Chennai, which will all have strong WA representation. I am a very strong supporter of Indian migration. A better
process is needed in Australia for skills recognition and gap training. I have written to Senator Vanstone suggesting
[ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 1 September 2005]
5005
also that consideration be given to providing skills accreditation parallel to that operated by Trades Recognition
Australia. I have also supported a pilot study by the WA overseas qualification unit to approve local skills assessment.
To alleviate skills shortages in key areas, the Gallop government has recently awarded nearly $90 000 worth of grants
to nine organisations across Western Australia to help migrants use their overseas qualifications. My colleague the
Minister for Education and Training, Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich, announced the funding and said that it would help migrants
have their qualifications recognised in building, construction, nursing, social work and childcare. In announcing the
funding the minister said that in the current climate we need to ensure that industry and businesses are not missing out
on skilled workers because talented people from overseas have not had their qualifications and skills recognised to work
in WA. She said that many people from overseas are working in menial jobs and do not know how to obtain additional
training to help them have their qualifications recognised, and the Gallop government is providing new opportunities for
Western Australians. Many members of Parliament will be aware that highly trained, highly skilled migrants from
places such as Africa, Asia and eastern Europe are working in Perth in jobs that do not warrant their qualifications, such
as driving taxis, cleaning and so on. We can do much to capture the benefit of their skills.
The state and federal governments have probably been accused of dropping the ball on skills training. Migration must
not be a replacement for skilling our own people, but I have said enough about that in the Parliament over the years.
We did not do enough during the 1990s decade, and we failed to plan for future skills needs. I agree that the time to
cooperate is now, and that the issue of skills shortages must be approached on a wide range of fronts, including income
tax reform, migration policy and promotion of opportunities in Western Australia.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE STANDING COMMITTEE
Annual Report 2004-05
MR A.P. O’GORMAN (Joondalup) [10.07 am]: I present for tabling the first report of the Community Development
and Justice Standing Committee entitled “Annual Report 2004-05”.
[See paper 741.]
Mr A.P. O’GORMAN: Thank you for the opportunity to present this report, Madam Deputy Speaker. I also thank the
members of the committee, the members for Geraldton, Kingsley and Murray. The member for Warren-Blackwood
was a member of the original committee, but he later resigned his position and was replaced by the member for Carine.
They are a great group of people to work with.
I also thank the committee for its support over the past few months. As the new chairman of the committee, I have
found my new role rather challenging, but we are getting there. The committee also is new to this community and
justice area; therefore, over the past few months it has taken the opportunity of holding briefings with the various
departments for which it has responsibility.
The committee has recently adopted terms of reference for an inquiry of which the committee is very supportive. The
committee has also coopted the member for Warren-Blackwood to the committee in light of his specific expertise. I
thank the members of the committee very much. The briefings by the people from the departments were beneficial
because they gave many of us an in-depth insight into the operations of the various departments. The staff of the
committee, Ms Katherine Galvin and Ms Nici Burgess, have been of great help in providing members with information
about how committees operate and how members should undertake certain aspects of committee duties. Although the
report is rather small at this stage, I am sure that, during the rest of this government’s term, we will return a number of
reports on inquiries that will lead to changes in legislation and make things better for our community as a whole.
ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRY STANDING COMMITTEE
Third Report - Interim Report on the Inquiry into Production and Marketing of Foodstuffs
MS J.A. RADISICH (Swan Hills) [10.09 am]: I present for tabling the third report of the Economics and Industry
Standing Committee, entitled “Interim Report on the Inquiry into Production and Marketing of Foodstuffs”.
[See paper 742.]
Ms J.A. RADISICH: It is with great pleasure today that I table the committee’s third report, which is about labelling.
This issue has been of great interest to many people within government, within the media and within the community.
The process for the formulation of the report was quite arduous, and all members of the committee contributed to that
process. I acknowledge the deputy chairman, the member for Greenough, who I think is coming back from Dowerin
some time soon, as well as the other members: the members for Mandurah, Vasse and Collie, and our coopted members,
the members for Warren-Blackwood and Stirling, who made a particular contribution. In fact, the terms of reference for
our inquiry were originally referred to our committee by the Assembly as a result of a motion of the member for
Warren-Blackwood, and a motion of the member for Stirling, if I recall correctly. They have certainly been
instrumental in bringing us to this point today.
The background and issues relating to the report are fairly well known and well documented through the media and
through general publications by government, and in light of various retailer media releases and so on. Essentially, the