Migration reform will be a key focus of tomorrow's federal budget as Labor works to stop the mining boom being stymied by a chronic skills shortage.
An all-in-one migration initiative to address skills shortages for multi-billion-dollar projects will be a feature of the budget.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says skilled migration 457 visa reforms will end rorting and get skilled labour to employers who need it and allow continued economic growth.
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There are also plans to boost skilled migration to regional areas, reports the Australian newspaper.
The paper reports there will be a 60 per cent increase in skilled migration under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. With 10,000 taking up a place on the scheme out of this year's skilled migrant intake of 113,850, according to the Australian, the number will be boosted to 16,000.
But Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union WA state secretary Kevin Reynolds has urged the government to boost family migration rather than use temporary migrants, and provide removal and housing assistance so east coast residents can take jobs in WA's north and Perth.
