Australia’s peak mining industry body has urged the federal government to immediately suspend recent changes to skilled migration settings, warning that deprioritising offshore visa applicants risks worsening severe workforce shortages across key industrial sectors.
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) expressed deep concern over federal policy shifts that place overseas applicants behind domestic candidates.
MCA CEO Tania Constable stated that the changes threaten productivity, project delivery, and broader economic stability.
“Changes by the federal government to deprioritise offshore skilled migration visa applicants will make it harder for mining and other sectors to drive innovation, lift productivity and reinforce the minerals industry’s position as a key contributor to national economic resilience,” Constable said.
While acknowledging that Australian jobseekers remain the sector’s top priority, Constable highlighted that skilled migrants are essential for addressing acute, specialised vacancies that local training pipelines cannot quickly fill.
Skilled migrants currently account for 1.24 per cent of the national minerals workforce, filling vital roles such as geotechnical engineers, metallurgists, mine surveyors, geologists, and specialised trades.
“Australian mining cannot find enough people to fill critical roles including mining, geotechnical and processing engineers, metallurgists, geologists, electricians, mine surveyors, diesel fitters and drillers,” she said.
The MCA warned that processing delays and administrative hurdles extend well beyond resources, impacting construction, clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, and cybersecurity.
Industry figures project the sector will add up to 35,400 jobs by 2028 on top of its existing direct and indirect footprint of 1.25 million positions.
To prevent project delays and safeguard export earnings, the peak body is calling for immediate industry consultation and targeted structural reforms.
The MCA recommends streamlining visa processing, matching migration intake directly to verified industry needs, and creating fast-tracked permanent residency pathways for critical STEM fields and technical trades aligned with national strategic priorities.
