The Australian Hotels Association ACT (AHA ACT) has taken its stance on immigration to social media, urging federal politicians to consider the impact on Australia’s hospitality industry in an AI generated spot.
In an Instagram reel, the association argued that the national migration debate needs to look beyond the numbers and consider the businesses that rely on international workers to operate.
View this post on Instagram
The spot highlighted the contribution of overseas workers across hospitality, from skilled chefs to hotel managers to working baristas, while warning that the cost and time involved in securing international talent can create significant challenges for employers.
According to the AHA ACT, sponsoring an overseas skilled worker can cost around $35,000, with visa processing taking up to 12 months. The association said those delays risk pushing skilled workers towards other destinations, including New Zealand, the UK and Canada, leaving Australian businesses struggling to fill roles.
The spot also pointed to the importance of working holiday makers, particularly for regional and remote communities where international workers contribute to hospitality, accommodation and agriculture.
The AHA ACT has called on the Federal Government to stop delaying skilled worker visa applications and ensure businesses are not left behind because of workforce shortages. It has also called for proposed migration policy changes to be assessed for their potential economic impact.
“They do jobs for you every day that you may not even notice,” AHA ACT said in the Instagram post.
“A sustainable migration system must recognise the vital contribution of international workers and ensure Australian businesses have access to the skills they need to thrive,” it added.
The message is directed at federal decision-makers, but it also speaks to a wider audience, asking Australians to consider how much international workers contribute to everyday business operations.
With the Federal Government in the midst of considering migration changes, AHA ACT has leveraged it’s social media platform and AI to press its case that workforce availability should remain central to the discussion.
