Allegra Spender MP urges reform to address skills shortage and boost Australian economy

23 April 2025

Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, has backed the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign and has called for urgent reform to fix Australia’s broken skills recognition system, warning the economy is missing out on $9 billion in value each year if action isn’t taken.

“There are thousands of highly skilled workers with overseas qualifications, already living in Australia, who have not had their qualifications recognised and so are not able to contribute to addressing the skills shortages currently found in a third of Australia’s occupations,” Ms Spender said.

“I support all the proposed measures of the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign and have been a strong advocate for system reforms that streamline qualification recognition for skilled migrants and reduce the barriers to participating in and contributing to Australia’s economy.”

“I also recognise that cost is a barrier to skills qualifications and support mechanisms to remove financial barriers that prevent skilled migrants working within their field.”

Ms Spender said that fixing the skills recognition regime was not just about fairness, but also an essential part of boosting economic productivity and growth. She added that the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign makes sense and is a no-regret action because it focuses on harnessing the talent migrants already in Australia whose skills are being wasted.  

“I will continue to advocate for lower administrative and financial barriers for migrants to have their skills recognised in Australia,” Ms Spender said.

The Activate Australia’s Skills campaign is pushing for a simpler, fairer and more efficient approach to recognising overseas qualifications along with tailored support for skilled migrants in key sectors with high rates of workforce shortages like renewables, healthcare, and construction.

Campaign spokesperson and CEO of Settlement Services International, Violet Roumeliotis, welcomed Ms Spender’s support and stressed the urgency of reform.

“Thousands of skilled people are stuck in a bureaucratic maze to get their skills recognised while industries go without the talent they desperately need. This is smart, practical reform that will boost capacity, reduce costs, and help Australia meet its big goals. We all win with this reform.”

“We call on all political parties to commit to reforming the skills recognition system in the next term of Parliament. This issue is bigger than politics; it’s about building a nation where everyone can contribute to their fullest. We would all be better for it.”

The Activate Australia’s Skills campaign is calling on the Australian Parliament to implement four key skills recognition reforms, all of which Ms Spender supports:    

• Establish one national governance system for all overseas skills and qualifications recognition, including an Ombudsman with regulatory power to provide independent oversight and transparency.   
• Create a more joined-up system that links skills recognition for migration purposes with licensing and accreditation for employment purposes.  
• Provide financial support for individuals to remove cost barriers and an online portal with all the information so people know what they need to do.  
• Set up Migrant Employment Pathway Hubs with skills recognition navigators to get qualified people working in their professions again.