April 11 2008 – Australian Minister wanted work Visas for older tourists
Ms Boyle wants "age discrimination" removed from the 12-month working holiday visa, which allows 18 to 30-year-olds to work while holidaying in Australia.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle stated that grey nomads from Britain, New Zealand, the US and Europe could help ease Queensland's skills shortage.
She said working holidays might appeal to baby boomers whose children had grown up. "The age limit may have been appropriate in the past but there are now lots of people in their 60s working well," Ms Boyle said.
"Fruit picking might be too demanding for people in their 50s but there is big demand for people with professional skills – doctors, nurses," Ms Boyle said.
She has written to federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans asking that the age restriction be lifted.
Ms Boyle said unprecedented numbers of young Australians were heading overseas on working holidays and leaving behind holes in the workforce. Removing the age barrier to the visas might correct the imbalance.
"Why discriminate against older generations when in fact many of these people have the skills and qualifications and experience to help Australia's key industries," Ms Boyle said.
Dreamworld chief executive and Queensland Tourism Industry Council chairman Stephen Gregg said despite being situated in a densely populated region, the skills shortage had affected the cost of labour at the tourist park.
"It means we have to pay a lot for people like engineers and that is impacting on the bottom line," Mr Gregg said.
But he said on the islands and remote locations in Queensland, just getting staff was a big problem.
Hospitality staff are badly need at resorts in the Whitsundays, in Maryborough there is a shortage of metal fabricators and engineers and skilled trades people are in short supply in resource-rich Central Queensland and the Bowen Basin.
Ms Boyle said she had not yet spoken to other states about the idea, but was keen to hear what the business community thought of the proposal. Ms Boyle said there were 70,000 working holiday visas issued last year, which covered many different occupations. "Even if 5000 more baby boomers came, it would still be a huge boost for industry," she said. M
Contact Ambler Collins should you have further enquiries on immigration to the UK, NZ, Australia or the USA
visa, we will undertake a complimentary assessment of your eligibility. Email us at;
info@amblercollins.com
