May/June - MTA

to access the skilled migrant
pool.
“We now also have the
responsibility of refining the
State Immigration Plan which
will be used by the Federal
Government to assess regional
and state based skills
requirements,” Ms Hansen
said.
The State Government
through the Regional
Sponsored Migration Scheme
(RSMS) can assist with
permanent residence visas for
skilled tradespeople.
“This requires proof that the
position cannot be filled locally,
a market rate will be paid and
working conditions will be
under an award and comply
with all legislation as well as
evidence of skills and
qualifications of applicants,”
Ms Hansen said.
MTA Executive Committee
Member John Zulian also gave
an overview from an employer
perspective with a very
successful recruitment through
Southern Cross Personnel.
“Formal skill
assessments
have been
progressively
introduced since
the middle of
last year”
(L-R): Bob Lightfoot (Suzuki in the City), Tony Raschella (Cavan Agricultural Industries)
Robyn Hansen (Immigration SA) and Vin Morris (Suzuki in the City) at the MTA’s
Skilled Migration Seminar.
Transport an issue for Australians
recent transport opinion
A study has found one in
five Australians nominate
either transport (nine per cent)
or infrastructure (10 per cent)
as one of the two highest
priority issues in Australia
today.
The survey, which was carried
out by the Institute of
Transport and Logistics
Studies, is a quarterly study of
1,000 adults.
The highlights of the survey
are detailed below:
• Over half of Australians (58
per cent) say the highest
priority issue for transport
in Australia is public
transport improvements,
more than twice as many as
say road improvements (23
per cent).
• Less than one in five
Australians (19 per cent)
think transport in their local
area has improved in the last
year, with NSW residents
the least positive.
• Only one in five Australians
(20 per cent) think transport
in their local area will be
better in one year’s time,
with about half thinking it
will be the same as now.
Victorian residents are the
most confident transport in
their local area will be better
in one year’s time.
• A quarter of Australians (25
per cent) think transport in
Australia will be better in
one year’s time than now,
while slightly more (27 per
cent) think it will be worse.
NSW residents are the least
confident of any state, while
South Australian residents
are clearly the most
confident about transport
improving.
• Australians are more
confident that transport in
Australia will be better in
five years than in one year,
with almost half (46 per
cent) thinking transport in
Australia will be better in
five years. NSW residents
are the least confident of
any state.
• 53 per cent of Australians
think their state government
is most responsible for
transport with Western
Australian residents most
likely to nominate their
state government as
responsible (60 per cent),
and South Australian
residents least likely (43 per
cent). 27 per cent of
Australians nominate both
the state and Australian
federal governments
and only 14 per cent
nominate the Australian
federal government.
• 44 per cent of Australians
think the private sector
should be involved more in
the provision of public
transport, while 29 per cent
think the private sector
should be involved less.
NSW residents are
noticeably more
positive than Victorian
residents about private
sector involvement in
public transport.
“NSW residents are the least
confident of any state, while
South Australian residents are
clearly the most confident about
transport improving.”
www.mta-sa.asn.aumotor trade 29