APPEA: Skilled Migration Changes to Underpin Oil and Gas Expansion (Australia)

The short-term workforce flexibility measures outlined in Tuesday’s Budget will underpin the continued expansion of Australia’s oil and gas investments and deliver even more employment and training opportunities for Australians, according to the peak body representing the multi-billion dollar oil and gas industry.

The 2011 Budget’s inclusion of a fast track migration initiative for large resource projects will see gas project proponents able to bring more skilled and semi-skilled workers to Australia to meet peak demand, while also ensuring long term jobs for Australians and increasing local training commitments.

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Chief Executive, Belinda Robinson, said: “This move is very important to our industry and shows the Government understands the importance of the resources sector to Australia’s continued prosperity.

“Australia’s oil and gas industry is already investing heavily in local training opportunities, but our industry needs more people and more skills in the short-term if we are to capitalise on the enormous opportunities that our extraordinary gas endowment represents.

“Surging energy demand throughout Asia is driving huge investment in Australia’s gas sector, with $88 billion worth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects currently under construction and another $100 billion-worth at advanced stages of planning. These developments will require tens of thousands of workers.

“Our industry will continue to invest heavily in cadetships, traineeships and graduate programs for Australians and we are committed to remaining active in schools and universities, where we already promote maths, science, engineering and careers in the resources sector to Australians.

“But to meet both the short-term construction commitments and some of the longer-term needs for essential LNG skills, we need to access overseas labour and utilise the experience and expertise of the global oil and gas industry.

“The Government’s drive to improve Australia’s productivity through new direct partnerships with industry and the delivery of an estimated 130,000 high quality training places will help ensure the continued growth of the oil and gas industry and promote prosperity and regional growth across Australia.”

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Source: APPEA, May 11, 2011;