Understaffed sectors join premiers of NSW and Victoria in call for improved skilled migration

Australia’s hospitality industry is in a ‘global race’ to get skilled workers back in the wake of the pandemic, Australian Hotels Association’s head, Stephen Ferguson, says. Photograph: Derick Hudson/Getty Images

Leaders across business, health and tourism are calling on the new federal government to speed up approvals for skilled visa applications as they struggle with crippling labour shortages across the country.

As the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria unite in their calls for urgent action to approve more visas, industry leaders said longer-term plans should be made to train more Australians to fill roles to safeguard industries from future shocks.