That is Daina Winch’s message to those who want to reduce migration numbers in Australia.
As the owner of Shepparton Brewery, Miss Winch relies on international workers to fill roles, especially those in the kitchen.
It comes as the Federal Government prepares to clamp down on overseas migration, reducing net annual overseas migration to 225,000 by 2028, down from current levels of 292,000.
It has also recently paused applications for working holiday visas from 24 countries.
The changes have been criticised by the Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association, which says the moves could exacerbate existing workforce shortages.
According to Miss Winch, international workers are often the only people applying for hospitality jobs.
“I don’t think you would find a kitchen without an international worker in it,” she said.
Having worked in hospitality for 30 years, it’s a trend she has seen increasingly since COVID.
Many of these have to be sponsored, costing the business up to $5000.
Currently, her business is able to find enough staff. However, she is worried changes to migration policy may impact this.
She said any changes could particularly affect larger hospitality businesses such as pubs, which have bigger rosters to fill.
Shepparton Villages chief executive Veronica Jamison said the aged care industry was reliant on overseas workers. About 15 per cent of the organisation’s 550 staff come from overseas.
She’s particularly concerned about a proposal by One Nation to reduce migration by banning the family members of skilled migrants from entering the country.
“You’re not just hiring one worker when you bring someone from overseas, you’re in effect hiring their family,” Ms Jamison said.
Ms Jamison said that Shepparton Villages was currently able to find the staff it required.
However, said any changes to family members’ eligibility for visas could affect the facility’s ability to attract and retain staff.
She warned that any shortfall in staff could mean that aged care waiting lists could increase.
“If we can’t get the workforce, we can’t deliver the services,” she said.
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