A population policy to help attract more Asian workers to fill skills shortages is high on the state's peak employer body's state budget wish-list.
In its submission to this year's state budget, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on the state government to commission a detailed population policy to take advantages of the ``Asian century'' and deal with the demographic challenges Tasmania is facing.vp+1
The TCCI argued that the state needed to attract more Asian language teachers and more skilled workers for the expanding dairy industry.
``There are also much broader opportunities for skilled migration to contribute to Tasmania's trade capacity with Asia that are easily overlooked, particularly in addressing other shortages of employees with necessary skills required to meet Asian demand for Tasmania's goods and services,'' the submission states.
The submission focuses on the need for the government to show strong leadership including articulating a deeper reform agenda and reassuring the community about economic development.
The TCCI also wants the government to:
- Fund a community leadership program.
- Release the results of its red tape review.
- Consider selling the network business that will be formed by merging Aurora's distribution business and Transend Networks as part of the electricity market reforms.
- Speed up the school amalgamation process by cutting short the consultation process.