FNQ migration plan could be a boon for Douglas Shire
BUSINESS
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce’s recent success in winning approval of the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA), will have a positive effect on the Douglas Chamber of Commerce.
Under the DAMA framework, employers in areas experiencing skills and labour shortages, can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers. DAMAs are designed to ensure employers recruit Australians as a first priority and prioritise initiatives and strategies to facilitate the recruitment and retention of Australian workers.
Liz Ross, president of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, said this decision will definitely impact this region.
“The FNQ DAMA includes the area of the Douglas Shire. There are 80 job occupations that are covered under the DAMA and I am happy to check for any business that may be looking for workers that can’t find suitable employees, who have the requirements to fill the job or jobs that they require to be filled,” she said.
“The DAMA agreement can only be used and accessed if suitable local people cannot be found, then we can seek skilled migrants. The first priority must be to fill the jobs by Australian people.”
“The FNQ DAMA is an important way to attract skilled migrants to our state where local workers are not available to fill jobs. It is only if suitable local recruits cannot be found that skilled migrants can be accessed by the DAMA process.
“Our first priority is always to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system can play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps,” said Debbie-Anne Bender, CEO, Cairns Chamber of Commerce.
Far North Queensland’s economy will be significantly boosted with the signing of a new skilled migration agreement between the Commonwealth Government and Cairns Chamber of Commerce, said Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.
He said the new Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) was a fantastic outcome for our region.
“The five-year DAMA agreement will assist a range of industries including tourism, hospitality, agriculture, shipping and health, helping to drive economic growth and fill critical employment gaps.”
Federal Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs minister David Coleman said the Morrison Government was 100 per cent committed to supporting the skills needs in Far North Queensland.
He said under a DAMA, Labour Market Testing is required, meaning a position cannot be filled by a migrant if an Australian worker is available for that job.
“Our first priority is always to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system can play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps,” Mr Coleman said.
The Far North Queensland DAMA would cover the Cassowary Coast, Tablelands, Mareeba, Cairns and the Douglas Shire.
Far North Queensland joins the Northern Territory, South Australia, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Victoria’s Great South Coast and New South Wales’ Orana region to enter into a five-year Designated Area Migration Agreement.
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