RECOGNITION by the State and Federal Governments of Western Australia’s severe labour shortages is an important first step towards securing the state’s future growth and economic prosperity.
The state’s peak business and employer group, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA, is pleased the WA Premier Alan Carpenter and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd have agreed to hold further talks in the New Year to examine ways to alleviate the burden on local employers.
The pressing need for governments at all levels to develop and implement new policies to help attract and retain more workers to WA was highlighted in a recent CCI report which predicted the state will require an extra 400,000 workers over the next decade.
CCI congratulates Mr Carpenter for raising the issue with the Prime Minister and convincing him of the need for urgent action at today’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Melbourne.
The state’s peak business and employer group is pleased further high level government talks will be held in early 2008 to examine ways to alleviate the labour supply burden on local business and industry.
CCI is hopeful the talks will result in immediate action. This is a significant development and CCI encourages the State and Federal Governments to include WA business in its discussions to ensure the needs and interests of local employers are met.
Western Australia will not have the capacity to sustain the economic boom and fulfil its long term potential unless the country’s political leaders move without delay to improve the labour supply outlook.
To ensure the ongoing success and prosperity of our small, medium and large businesses, it is imperative employers have access to a reliable, flexible and well-trained workforce.
CCI
robert.pride@cciwa.com