Australian Criticises Skilled Migration List Including Dog Groomers and Lifeguards
A spokesperson for Sustainable Population Australia has launched a scathing attack on the country's migration program after it was revealed that occupations like dog grooming are classified as 'skilled' jobs for which foreigners can apply for visas. Michael Bayliss, representing the organisation, stated that the government's skilled migration jobs program lists nearly 700 occupations that do not have a genuine skills shortage in Australia.
'Complete and Utter Cluster'
Mr Bayliss argued that visas should not be granted where no genuine job shortage exists, describing the skilled migration list as a 'complete and utter cluster'. He expressed frustration, saying, 'The federal government has such a low opinion of your skillset that it is willing to look overseas for qualified dog groomers and zoo keepers. If this sounds farcical to you, it's because it is.'
He called for the skilled migration list to be culled, blaming decades of government policy for the situation. 'For the past two decades, governments have been systematically slashing tertiary training within Australia,' he explained. 'They then cry foul claiming we have no option but to gather skills from overseas. This is a case of politicians finding solutions for the problems they created in the first place.'
Questionable Occupations on the List
The Home Affairs working visa skills list includes a wide range of occupations that some argue Australians could fill, such as:
- Actors and dancers
- Acupuncturists and beauty therapists
- Antique dealers and deer farmers
- Lifeguards and real estate agents
- Caravan park managers and horse racing officials
- Marriage counsellors, funeral directors, and flower growers
Sustainable Population Australia, which describes itself as an independent not-for-profit organisation seeking to protect the environment and quality of life by ending population growth, has been vocal in its criticism. President Peter Strachan urged the government to require overseas applicants to be sponsored by an employer before being granted a skilled visa.
Record Immigration Numbers
Last month, Australia set a new immigration record, with almost half a million people arriving in the country last year, according to analysis by the conservative think tank The Institute of Public Affairs. The IPA, which includes former prime minister Tony Abbott as an affiliate, examined the latest Overseas Arrivals and Departures database from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
It found that net permanent and long-term arrivals totalled 494,540 in the 12 months to January 2026, the highest in recorded history. IPA senior fellow Dr Kevin You noted that these arrivals were people who had moved to Australia with a declared intention to stay for a year or longer.
'Records continue to be smashed with this government's promise to cut migration in absolute tatters,' he said. 'The number of people coming to settle in Australia reached record highs, as the size of Australia's migrant population is growing larger than ever. The Albanese government has been unable or unwilling to genuinely reform our migration system.'
Government Response and Policy Proposals
Home Affairs data shows there were 2.98 million temporary visa holders staying or residing in Australia on January 1, the highest number on record, marking a 4.24 per cent growth from the previous year. While promising to reduce net figures, the government is focusing on a 185,000-place permanent migration program for 2025-26, tightening temporary visa pathways to manage housing and infrastructure strain.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the nation's migration rate while claiming his government had significantly lowered the total number of people moving to Australia. 'When it comes to migration numbers, we have cut the net migration figures by over 40 per cent in a year,' he stated. 'The number of people arriving now is lower than it was under the Coalition.' The latest population statement released in early January confirmed that population growth is expected to slow to 1.3 per cent in the current financial year.
In contrast, One Nation's federal party has proposed more drastic measures, including deporting about 75,000 migrants currently residing in Australia on overstayed visas, capping visas to 130,000 a year, and banning migration from countries 'known to foster extremist ideologies'.
Peter Strachan of Sustainable Population Australia warned against rapid population expansion, citing global uncertainties. 'At a time of increasing global uncertainty and rising risks associated with conflict, weather extremes, fractured trade logistics and the prospect of rising food insecurity, a policy of rapid population expansion would be foolish in the extreme,' he concluded.
