Perth will be reclassified as a regional city, to make it easier to employ foreign workers.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen made the announcement yesterday, saying the reclassification would allow a better share of the 16 000 skilled migrant workers expected into Australia under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.
The state will need to find 33 000 workers in the next year alone, and under changes made in the federal budget, it will become easier for skilled workers to enter Australia to work.
There is more than $380 billion invested in the industry, and the number of unfilled labour positions in the mines is increasing.
“The simple fact is that there will not be enough Australian workers to get the job done,” Bowen said.