Government adds chefs to priority occupation list

The Morrison government has extended its priority occupation list for skilled visas with chefs now included on the list following extensive consultation with the Australian Hotels Association and Tourism Accommodation Australia.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said, "The Morrison government will continue to support Australian businesses, including through skilled migration, as the engine room of our nation's economy.”

The move has been welcomed by the two bodies representing two industries which are experiencing a chronic nationwide skills shortage due to Australia's closed borders and a boom in domestic tourism.

AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said today’s addition of chefs could not have come at a better time.

“Our international borders remain closed and we cannot access the usual stream of international chefs who form a critical part of our workforce,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Hotels in regional parts of Australia hard-hit by bushfires and droughts are desperate for chefs in particular with some pub and hotel restaurants closed during the week due to the worker shortage. Some of our most successful hotels are currently more than 50% down on job applications for the same time last year."

The industry is heavily incentivised to hire Australian talent. Bringing a chef in from overseas can costs between $10,000 to $25,000 given visa fees, skills assessments, migration lawyers and so on, explained Ferguson.

“Our priority is always to employ Aussies first, and always will be, but international chefs add to the hospitality experience helping our businesses provide a world-best service as we move into the global COVID recovery phase.”

Like hospitality venues, accommodation has also been hard hit by the shortage.

 Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Michael Johnson said, “Adding chefs to the Priority Skilled Migration Occupation List is a great first step which will put accommodation hotels in a much better position.”

Existing skilled migration lists will remain active and visas will still be processed, but priority will be given to the 41 occupations now on the list.

Anyone sponsored under the skilled visa scheme will need to pay for their own quarantine.