Qld: Baby boomers the key to solving skills shortage, says Boyle

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2008
Qld: Baby boomers the key to solving skills shortage, says Boyle

By Crystal Ja

GOLD COAST, April 10 AAP - Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle believes baby boomers
from across the globe could help solve the state's skills crisis.

Ms Boyle today said she had written to federal Immigration Minister Chris Evans calling
for the current age restrictions for working holidaymakers to be lifted.

Twelve-month holiday visas are available to 18- to 30-year-olds under current provisions.

Ms Boyle said overseas workers aged 30-plus were Australia's great untapped resource.

"Business and industry in Queensland is constrained in terms of its growth by a lack
of skilled labour," Ms Boyle told reporters on the Gold Coast.

"Why should we allow working holiday visas for 18- to 30-year-olds only? It may be
some of us who are older, baby boomers, may well like that opportunity."

Ms Boyle said Queensland's low unemployment rate of 3.6 per cent had its positive points
but was restricting business growth.

"This is a bigger issue for Queensland, I suspect, (because) Queensland is booming
more than other states," she said.

There were shortages in hospitality, the health sector and other skilled trades all
around the state, the minister said.

Ms Boyle said she had not yet spoken to other states about supporting the measure,
but added Western Australia and regional areas of NSW also had their own skills shortage
crises.

She said she would await responses to the proposal from business before taking the
matter further.

AAP cj/dmc/pjo/it/cdh

KEYWORD: TOURISM BOOMERS

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