The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) has warned that any significant cuts to Australia's migration program risk worsening workforce shortages for small businesses already struggling to find the people they need.
COSBOA CEO Skye Cappuccio said many small businesses rely on migration to access the skills and essential workers they need to keep operating.
COSBOA's recent survey of small businesses in regional Australia found that, for many, it is not a lack of demand holding their business back, but a lack of access to workers. Businesses reported having the work, but not the people to do it.
"Cutting migration settings to hit an arbitrary target number, without proper regard for the real, evidenced impact on small business and local communities, risks making an already difficult workforce shortage even worse. Small businesses across many industries, including hospitality and trades, rely on skilled migrants to fill critical workforce gaps," Ms Cappuccio said.
"Importantly, it is not only skilled migration categories that matter. Working holiday makers, for example, are central to meeting the workforce needs of small businesses in many regional areas and can be critical to keeping those businesses viable. The role they play for regional businesses needs to be fully considered."
Ms Cappuccio said COSBOA has joined a broad alliance of business and civil society organisations calling on the Federal Government to convene a National Migration Summit.
"Migration policy is too important to be decided through short-term political debate. That's why we are calling for a National Migration Summit as soon as possible, so any changes are guided by evidence and data and properly consider the impact on the economy, local communities and small business, not just a headline number."
COSBOA is asking the Government to ensure small business has a seat at the table in any national conversation about the future of Australia's migration settings.
