Updated January 6, 2011 11:39:49

The Australian business sector and migration employment advocates are calling on the Immigration Department to better allocate its resources to address a backlog of applications from skilled migrants wanting to come to Australia.

They are also urging the Federal Government to be more consultative when it comes to deciding which workers should come to Australia. The Immigration Department says about 140 thousand people are waiting to have their skilled visa applications processed.

Presenter: Christine Webster

Speakers: Maurene Horder, Chief Executive Officer of the Migration Institute of Australia; Peter Anderson, Chief Executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Chris Bowen, Australia's Immigration Minister.

Listen: Windows Media

WEBSTER: Australia's Immigration Minister, Chris Bowen, says there will always be a large number of skilled migrants who want to work in Australia and not everyone can be accepted.

He says it's likely the backlog in applications from skilled workers overseas wanting to come to Australia will continue to grow.

BOWEN: Of course there is demand for skilled labour and skilled migration, and as I say, we've made significant changes to reflect that demand. But I think we will always that situation where there are more people who want to come and work in Australia than the economy can sustain.

WEBSTER: The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Chief Executive, Peter Anderson, says in many areas across Australia there is a strong need for skilled workers in industries such as health, the aged care sector, construction and energy resources.

And he says there are workers from not only western nations but Asia and the Middle East who are eager to come and work in Australia.

Mr Anderson is urging the Immigration Department to do more to address the pile up of applications from potential overseas workers. He says it may mean reallocating resources to ensure the assessment process is sped up.

ANDERSON: It's extremely unfortunate, to say the least, that at a time when skills shortages are already emerging in our economy, we do have a backlog in assessing applications for skilled migration. Our migration system does need to retain its integrity, it does need to ensure that proper checking and vetting occurs, but lengthy delays do nothing to assist either the individuals concerned or the economy.

WEBSTER: Chief Executive Officer of the Migration Institute of Australia, Maurene Horder, agrees and believes her organisation could provide help to the Immigration Department to reduce the backlog of applications from skilled migrants.

HORDER: One of the things that we from the Institute's point of view have been thinking about is how can you speed this up? Because it's really inadequate. We've had a few breakthroughs with the Department where we've had some good efficiency moves, what we call a 'decision-ready checklist' being applied to applicants who come through a registered agent. The agents are able to sort of speed up that process a little bit, and I guess what we're looking for now is to work more closely with the government in extending some of those sorts of systems. Now this is not bypassing any of their legal requirements.

WEBSTER: Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says some of the applicants who have applied to work in Australia may no longer be eligible, due to changes to Australia's skilled migration program last February.

These included removing hairdressers and cooks from the list of skilled occupations in demand in Australia.

BOWEN: People who are applying who don't have skills that are demand in the Australian economy are going to find that there are delays because we are processing those applications from those people with those qualifications and skills.

Source : http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201101/s3107465.htm