Jobs, infrastructure key considerations in plan to relocate migrants to bush : Gee

The yet-to-be-released population policy by new Prime Minister Scott Morrison would force some migrants to settle outside Sydney and Melbourne to help ease congestion in those cities.

Mr Gee said the implications of the plan in terms of jobs and infrastructure would require close examination when the time comes for it to be discussed by regional MPs.

But that time hadn’t arrived, with the subject yet to be broached in the Nationals party room.

“More information is needed on what’s being considered and all regional MPs need to be consulted about it,” Mr Gee said on Thursday.

“The key issues which I’d need more information on are how many people would come, where they would go, and whether there’s enough jobs, services and infrastructure to support them.”

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said regional areas were “crying out for more people to be able to fill jobs”.

“Regional Australia has been built on hard work, resilience and community mindedness,” the member for the Riverina said.

“An important part of this has been the hard work of families who have migrated to regional Australia for a new life.”

Mr McCormack said all options were on the table to improve existing immigration policies, including encouraging strategic targeted migration.

“We need to make sure our immigration system is working in the national interest. This can be achieved by connecting skilled workers to fill shortages,” he said.

“Migrants bring a willingness to work. They start small businesses and their contribution is highly valued in the communities they serve. 

“Regional Australia has skill shortages and positions which cannot be filled locally.”

Mr McCormack said that while migration which contributed to regional communities was needed to meet skill shortages, it was vital to ensure that there was adequate infrastructure and services to accommodate the growth in population.