Senior executives in the energy sector have urged the Albanese Government to use its Jobs Summit to streamline the skilled migration system and allow employers to bring in the expertise necessary for the transition to clean energy.
CEOs of solar energy companies and resources firms said on Tuesday the sector needed more flexibility to bring in overseas labour quickly and supplement local workers and that the government could make changes
David Griffin, CEO of Sun Cable, which is planning to build a $35 billion solar export project to Singapore, said access to skills and labour was “a concern for everyone across the country” and his company would have to upskill local workers to implement its plans.“We’ve got time to do that. We want to work with government and the local communities to make sure that those local communities are upskilled in time for when we want to start employing large numbers.
Amanda Lacaze, chief executive of Lynas, which processes rare earth materials for batteries and is building a $500 million factory in Kalgoorlie, said the company had not found significant skills shortages so far. Asked how fast the government should move, she argued that “governments can do things quickly when they decide that they should”.
Woodside Energy chief technology officer Shaun Gregory said between 2025 and 2035 the sector would have to transition half the blue and white-collar jobs to different skilled roles. “What I am observing is that if the governments and the businesses give a clear signal that the future is with clean energy technologies – it can be renewables, it can be hydrogen, it can be electric cars – there is a way to create skills, to retrain people, and the people themselves are tending to go to these new, in-quotes trendy jobs,” Dr Birol told“They just need to give clear and convincing signals from the businesses themselves, from the governments.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia and Belarus face ban from Paris Olympics, warns senior IOC memberRussia is facing a ban from the Paris Olympics as a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine, Sir Craig Reedie has warned
Read more »
Migrants the fastest way to fill 500,000 job vacancies: boardsSkilled migration and employee share schemes are key to solving the skills shortage, say company directors who warn it has become the biggest problem for business.
Read more »
Crossbench MPs support business’ call to fast-track skilled migrationCrossbench MPs Kylea Tink and Dr Sophie Scamps have supported calls from business to fast-track skilled migration as a means of tackling the skills crisis.
Read more »
China’s dominance of supply chains threatens global renewablesGlobal energy security is under increasing threat by China’s overwhelming dominance of the renewable supply chain, US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm warned the Sydney Energy Forum
Read more »
Albanese aims for superpower status in global energy transitionPrime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a renewable energy superpower | micksfoley NickToscano1
Read more »
Albanese aims for superpower status in global energy transitionAustralia has a rare chance to grow its economy and help its neighbours cut emissions in the clean energy revolution. | By Mike Foley and Nick Toscano economy energy
Read more »