In his inaugural address to the National Press Club as the Minister for Home Affairs, Burke revealed on Thursday that the government is actively exploring the potential for recognizing qualifications obtained offshore or instituting additional training. This initiative is part of an ongoing dialogue, with Burke careful to steer clear of making any formal announcements just yet.

The campaign, known as Activate Australia’s Skills, is driven by a coalition of businesses, unions, social services, and community groups. Their goal is to advocate for a policy that acknowledges and recognizes skills and qualifications from abroad.

Pirie, a spokesperson for the campaign, praised the proposal as a “really positive thing”. However, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance, ensuring that the government does not overlook the crucial role international students play in bolstering Australia’s education sector.

What industries could the government target first?

Pirie described the suggestion as a “really positive thing”, but stressed the government “can’t lose sight of the need to have students in Australia supporting our international education sector”.