Seriously, how did we get here where basically anyone can rock up and claim they want to work, without proper vetting or proof they're actually needed? It’s just not efficient. We’re supposed to be a serious country, not a charity or a free-for-all.
My proposal is simple: we need a skills-based system that’s actually, you know, based on skills employers actually need, not just what someone thinks they can do. It should be managed like a proper business – identify the demand, fill the gap, and move on. No more vague promises or backlogs. We should be targeting specific industries that are crying out for talent, but only those that can prove they’ve exhausted the domestic labour market first.
This also means proper checks, not just a handshake and a promise. We need to know who's coming in, why they're coming, and that they’re not gonna be a drain on the system.
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We need to focus on the trades where there are genuine shortages, like electricians or plumbers – my own trade, for instance. That's where the real 'demand' is, not for people to fill some vague administrative role that a computer could probably do. We need practical skills, not just degrees.