Age caps, red tape and six‑month processing queues are locking employers out of critical talent in health, construction and the regions
Australia risks missing its housing, infrastructure and productivity goals unless it urgently overhauls its skilled migration settings, according to immigration law specialist and Vialto partner, Cherie Wright.
Speaking with HRD, Wright says the current system is out of step with labour market realities – especially for regional employers and organisations seeking specialist trades and intra‑company transfers – and is weighed down by red tape and slow processing.
Vialto has lodged a detailed submission to the federal government’s inquiry into the value of skilled migration, calling for targeted reforms that would directly impact how HR leaders attract, sponsor and retain global talent.
Wright argues that migration is “part of the solution, not the problem” in the current environment of housing shortages, major infrastructure projects and persistent skills gaps.
“Yes, we have a housing shortage, but the issue is that to fulfil the government’s commitment on housing, you need trades workers,” she said. “We have a chronic shortage of trades workers in Australia that we can’t fill from the domestic market, so we have to rely upon overseas workers.”
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