The new NSW Primer Dominic Perrottet has joined the chorus of conservative political leaders calling for open borders asap to allow for an influx of workers from overseas. With claims that Australia is suffering a shortage of skilled, semi-skilled and down right unskilled labour all across the country, every "trade" from brain surgeon to raspberry picker are in short supply.

Its claimed unemployment is at an historically low level, around 4.5% and falling as we open up to Covid. Which if it was true there would be a strong case to support further skilled migration and immigration in general. The facts do not support the official unemployment rate, the truth is if underemployment and non participation are added to the official figure, unemployment is a high as 10%. Why are these politicians like Morrison and Frydenberg, add Perrottet to the growing list, advocating for massive increases in the number of fly in workers to fill the shortage, which at 10% unemployment does not exist. Of course the government is happy to fudge the figures down as it makes them look good in the eyes of the voters. Importing cheap foreign labour to fill the "shortage" suits employers as it costs them almost nothing in training. Gina Rinehart might be happy with mass worker immigration, but what about our unemployed, and young people starting out, how do they feel without a job?

Dear Paul,

Well I feel really stupid. I've totally bought what
we're currently being told that our aged care facilities,
our hospitals, and our service providers in general are
suffering from staff shortages. That even before the
pandemic our aging population caused problems for our
economy and that we badly needed to increase our immigration
quotas. Also that our major infrastructure and nation building
projects would go offshore.

Has it all really been a hoax?

cont'd ...

Dear Paul,

Plus I've recently had a bad experience with Australia
Post. We've got a close family friend who lives in
Los Angeles and who is turning 90 on 20th October.
Her daughter contacted us via email - asking us to be part
of her mother's birthday celebrations. She asked if we could
send some photos and memories of her mother's past which would
be presented to her at the celebration in Los Angeles.

I sat down and made up a package of various things and
sent it out on 29th September - EXPRESS POST AIR MAIL. wE
PAID EXTRA FOR IT. And her daughter told me that she would email
me as soon as they got the package in LA.

We waited and waited. The post office told us it would take
about two weeks. Finally not having heard anything from the
daughter - I was able to track the package yesterday.

Well guess what? The package was processed at the post office
on Wednesday 29th September it arrived at Melbourne Airport
that evening - Wednesday 29th September at 8.21pm and then was
transferred elsewhere - and to make a long story short - it
did not leave Melbourne until 16TH OCTOBER. I was told that it
was processed by the "air-carrier" on the 16th October at 12.39pm
and was now - "on its way." "In Transit!"

It won't of course reach Los Angeles by the 20th October - no
way! And we paid for the extra for it.

Tracking this package - we were told that there have been long
delays with international flights. Which is concerning. This
package is not such a big deal in the general scheme of things
I suppose. What worries me is what about our imports of vital
items to this country and our exports as well? Will those
be affected by delays?

Also anyone contemplating in sending Christmas
packages overseas - had better get onto it
as soon as possible. Don't wait.

That is what has been happening in Western Cultures with feminism [ anti-children], abortion on demand and career over family. Our population has not maintained natural growth of our own citizens and the population has aged in the meantime so there is a shortage of workers in the health and aged care industries. What would have been toung people working in agriculture have been alured by higher income in the city.

Josephus,

The reality is different from what you describe.

Most young mothers today work because households
need two incomes to survive. There's a variety of reasons
for abortions in our society and in many cases it's the
most difficult choice that anyone has to make. My children
to me are the joys of my life - but I'm not in a position
to be able to judge anyone else. It's not for me to judge
such a private matter.

People who choose careers over family usually don't have
children or if they do - their children are well looked
after, provided for, and very much loved in most cases.

As for young people working in agriculture? Many do.
Many take over the farms of their families. However, farmers
will tell you that if it wasn't for young Back-Packers
many crops would be lost. Back-Packers have saved many a
farm and helped out farmers.

Hey Josephus,

Do you think that the Queen is bad for having chosen
career over family?

(smile).

Hi Foxy,

No you're not stupid what so ever. There is a shortage of labour in aged care as there are in many fields. Its not a worker shortage, there are plenty of people without a job, its a skill shortage, or for reasons of pay and conditions the work is unattractive. This is not new, it existed long before Covid, and closed borders. Before we run off with a easy fix, like mass skilled migration, which we do need to so degree and suits some employers, lets look at what can be done to train Australians. Not nearly enough is being done by the private sector, or government, to facilitate training of Australians in areas of need, both retraining and trained careers for young Australians.

Dear Paul,

You've given me something to think about.
Thank you.

Foxy and Paul, sorry to disturb the love-in but really get a life. With a virulent Covid last year that has now turned decidely less virulent we have endured two wasted years of pain and it continues. I confess I am a Victorian so scored the lowest sort of leadership with the highest pain threshold.
I read today about the drug companies and WHO scam in 1976 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bOHYZhL0WQ
Watch this and see where you think this leads. We are always going to get migrants but I cannot wait for international travel again so whine away!

JBowyer,

What are you complaining about? We're just having a
discussion. Our views are not set in concrete.
Yes, we have been through a great deal and I'm not
sure what else is to come. I do know that things
are easing in Victoria, for which I think we're all
grateful. What the future holds? Who knows? I am
grateful that we do have politicians who want to
do what's best for us all. I don't envy any of them.
It's not an easy job - facing so many challenges.

And by the way - it's not our so called "whining"
that should concern you. It's who we're going to elect
at the next election. Your insulting people is a turn
off.

Foxy I apologize for characterizing your discussion as "Whining".
I agree elections are the most important thing next year although I fear my desires in this are directly opposed to yours. However I don't want you bashed by the police, asked for your papers on every corner or be forced to take a vaccine that neither stops infection or passing it on.
I also don't want to see my electricity bill used to impoverish me either.
I remember Steelredux saying about how Sweden got it all wrong and now it seems he was actually wrong. It turns out Sweden is having a good time which I want for Australia. Immigration is broadly a good thing too.

JBowyer,

I think we have more in common than you may realise.

Foxy I am delighted to agree with you and am horrified by what has happened over the last two years.
The current IBAC hearings are more fuel on the fire and sorry I cannot see the NSW hearings at the same time. Main Stream Media is just so hopeless at any sort of reporting. I was at some IBAC hearings2 years ago and some show pony reporter would poke his head in for ten minutes and then make stuff up or just ignore relevant evidence.

Bowyer, come on here with the big man act. You might have some clout and be able to throw your weight around with those rejects from 'Romper Stomper' you hang with in Melbourne, but on the forum you're just another far right ratty. If you haven't been told today, consider yourself as TOLD.

If we have a shortage of skilled workers then it's for 2 reasons.

Firstly many skilled people wont take the jab.
Hundreds walking off the job in every occupation its been mandated.

Secondly, it's because we let too many of our own learn gender studies instead of something that resembles actual work.

I wonder if I should change my name 'Armchair Critic'?
I could change it to 'Enough Of The BS Already'.

AC,

Both of your assertions are not supported by the facts. The take up rate for the 'Jab' in Australia is exceeding expectations with figures approaching 95%, based on census numbers, for the general community and higher rates in occupations where vaccination has been mandated. In the Victorian police force its around 99%, similar in other occupations. The hold outs are the apathetic, the misguided and the half a percent from the loony right; Nazis, doomsday preppers and religious nutters.

Where do you fit in? One, two or all three.

Theres nearly 26 million people in Australia,
95% vacinnated means 1.25 million Aussies still unvaccinated.
Well 400,000 of them are in QLD where I live.
300 cops and 700 nurses, doctors and other hospital staff walked the other day over the vaccine mandate, I heard.

300 cops and 700 nurses, doctors and other hospital staff walked the other day over the vaccine mandate,
Armchair critic,
Well, when they get sick (they're already crook) I hope they get shown the door of the Clinics !

Yes from memory the unemployment rate for under 25's is somewhere around 30% in many locations.

They put in false barriers to entry and then claim there isn't enough workers- this is plain torture.

There is an issue in Australia where they don't want to train people because they'll move to their competitors- Howard tried to address this with the training guarantee but it was controlled by the employers and the training they provided was outdated and irrelevant. In the past we were able to receive tax benefits from self education costs.

In some cases self training efforts are diluted by government and ideological interference- making these efforts irrelevant.

Australian's have all the attributes that Australia needs but due to the above they can't do them- classic Burnham (Communist) Managerialism putting the Chinese wall of certification in the way of productivity.

Some industries such as the education sector have engaged in protectionism so that their jobs are protected from cascading devaluation often due to immigration- in the University sector the risk of this is potentially more than some other sectors due to the high number of foreign students. Some industries are very exposed to immigration and this is reflected in the appalling practices.

Keynesianism interference in the form of immigration holds significant blame for the current skills situation in Australia- ironically a lot of this Keynesianism appears to be done by big business with communist cheerleading in the name of diversive inclusiveness.

If they locked the Australian borders better- there would be less transmission of Corona- no new strains- and we wouldn't need to be vaccinated. But powerful special interests are addicted to globalism.

As we're heading into the hot months COVID-19 will ease however, it's still transmitting now but the symptoms won't be showing until it gets colder again.

CM, where in the World have they locked boarders successfully and have a no vaccine policy in place, besides Antarctica. Your blind faith in Trumpism is ridiculous. It used to be the Cool-Aid for you blokes, but now its Pine-o-Clean.