Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew has commended the Australian Government’s 2023 budget for its measures supporting the upskilling of the engineering workforce targeting positive outcomes in AUKUS, manufacturing, sovereign capability, and national energy transition.
In a press release, Madew said the budget comes at a “critical juncture” for the nation as Australia deals with a complex geopolitical environment amid tough economic conditions, a skills gap, and pressing climate change issues.
“All are profound issues, and all intersect with the engineering profession,” the CEO commented.
The group also applauded the budget’s emphasis on strengthening Australia’s educational system (primary, secondary, and higher education) in order to build engineering skills locally.
To boost the number of skilled migrant engineers arriving in Australia, reforming the immigration program, and reducing migration pressures is also a good first step, according to Madew.
She said that Australia’s migration program will continue to be a major contributor to Australia’s engineering capability, making the investment in reforming the program vital, which is also due to the enormous constraints in the supply of domestically qualified engineers.
Meanwhile, Engineers Australia said it supports the budget initiative to legislate a national Net Zero Authority.
“To remain viable, the energy system must primarily exist for the well-being of Australians and put people at the centre of decision-making processes,” the CEO stated.
The clean energy industry is seen to have been expanding quickly, and this trend is expected to continue, so Madew said it will be crucial to keep current engineers because of the shortage of engineers and rising demand.
“Given the high skill base of the fossil fuel workforce, mapping their training needs will support an equitable transition and play a role in addressing skill shortages,” the CEO explained.
In terms of infrastructure development, Engineers Australia applauds the budget’s infrastructure commitment, which includes a focus on ensuring projects of national value and significance can be implemented.
“Government’s review of its multibillion-dollar Infrastructure Investment Program will also provide an opportunity to target investment to ensure best value for money is achieved. This is critical to helping ensure spending doesn’t further fuel current economic challenges,” Madew remarked.
She pointed out that Australia’s construction industry is already at a breaking point as a result of growing labour prices and labour shortages, which have led to blown-out budgets and project delays.
Still, the CEO expressed her high hopes for the initiatives the latest federal budget will bring to the table.
“We hope this Budget and review will give due consideration to changing consumer behaviour and economic priorities,” Madew concluded.
