Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth faced scrutiny over Australia's Skilled Migration Scheme, with questions arising about why tradespeople are not ranked higher for skilled visas despite a severe national housing crisis. The current system categorizes nurses and health professionals as tier one occupations, teachers as tier two, and construction trades alongside actors, dancers, economists, and animal handlers in the third tier.
During a television interview, host Nat Barr pressed Rishworth on the prioritization of construction workers. Rishworth acknowledged the need for more skilled tradespeople, stating the government has increased the number of construction workers entering the country by three times since taking office and is fast-tracking their skills recognition. She noted that over 20,000 individuals have had their skills approved through this expedited process.
However, Barr questioned whether construction workers should be placed at the same priority level as animal trainers and actors. Rishworth stated her desire to see more doctors, nurses, and construction workers but did not directly answer the question regarding the visa tier rankings. She emphasized the importance of recognizing these skills so workers can begin contributing to projects quickly.
Shadow Defence Minister James Patterson criticized the Labor government's priorities, arguing that in the midst of a housing crisis, it is illogical to consider animal trainers and actors as equally important for migration as electricians and plumbers. He stated that the country is not building enough homes and that the government's approach misaligns with the urgent need for skilled trades.
Rishworth countered these claims by reiterating the increase in overseas tradespeople since 2025 and noted that the tiered visa list has not changed since the previous government was in power. When asked why the rankings hadn't been re-evaluated during the four years of the housing crisis, Rishworth stated the government continues to receive expert advice on occupational priorities.
The Albanese government has set a target under the National Housing Accord to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029, requiring 240,000 homes annually. However, recent government modeling suggests this target may not be met until June 2030. Master Builders Australia chief economist Shane Garrett indicated a significant shortfall, with annualized data showing a deficit of 91,000 homes over the first two years of the Accord. The volume of new home approvals has reportedly remained below its long-term trend for the past two years. Reports also suggest that global events, such as the conflict in the Middle East, could introduce further uncertainty to housing supply projections.