Ministerial advisory council for skilled migration

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Created on Friday, 06 July 2012 17:34

Written by Editorial staff

A new ministerial advisory council announced by minister for immigration and citizenship Chris Bowen on Monday (July 2) will provide independent guidance for the government as it makes further developments to Australia's migration programs.

According to Bowen, a "fresh perspective" is needed to tackle the ongoing issues affecting migration in Australia, which include skill shortages and strategies to reduce the impact of the nation's aging population.

It is hoped that the new Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM) will be able to offer new insights into Australia's economic needs - and how migration can form an essential part of the solution.

The committee's 18 members will be made up of a number of key representatives across a diverse range of industries, including Woolworths managing director and chief executive officer Grant O'Brien, Australian Workers' Union national secretary Paul Howes and Dave Noonan, the national secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.

The new MACSM will be chaired by Michael Easson, whose broad range of experience makes him an ideal candidate for the role, according to Bowen.

"Mr Easson brings substantial experience to the council from his work as the executive chair of the EG Property Group, business consultant at Allens Arthur Robinson, deputy chair of ACT Electricity and Water Corporation, director of Macquarie Infrastructure Investment Management and Metro Transport, independent director of ING Management, and former vice president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions," he said.

Other prominent members of the new council, which met in Canberra for the first time on Monday, include national secretary of communications for the Electrical and Plumbing Union of Australia Peter Tigh, Xtrata general manager of financial services for commercial and administration Karen Read and Professor Peter McDonald, Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute director at ANU.

The establishment of MACSM is just one of several major changes affecting migration in Australia that have been made since the beginning of the new financial year.

Migration agents will undoubtedly be aware of the roll-out of the new SkillSelect online register, but a number of other significant changes have also been made in recent days - including an increase in the minimum salary threshold for 457 visa applicants and additional measures announced last month that offer additional support to migrants on temporary visas who are victims of family violence.