Migrant bid ‘ will depend on jobs’

JOBS and more infrastructure are needed for Townsville and North Queensland if migrants are forced to live in the regions, Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole says.

Yesterday Federal Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge revealed a plan to settle new migrants in regional areas to ease congestion in cities.

In a speech at the Menzies Research Centre, Mr Tudge said the Federal Government was working on measures to have more new arrivals go to smaller states and regions.

He said they would require them to be there for at least a few years.

“In that time, the evidence suggests that many will make it their home,” Mr Tudge said.

Ms O’Toole demanded more detail from the “thought bubble” from Mr Tudge.

“I think the first thing we need to is to get some detail about what the Government’s plan is,” she said.

“Labor would be happy to look at those details.”

Data released in August from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show Townsville’s population grew 0.9 per cent from 2016 to 2017.

Ms O’Toole said having more people in Townsville would not make sense if there were not enough jobs and in- frastructure to support those people being made to move.

“I think if you look at Sydney and Melbourne that’s not just migrants but Australians are moving too,” she said.

“You can’t expect the population of anywhere to move somewhere where there are no jobs.”

Townsville economist Colin Dwyer said more people were needed in Townsville and the broader region.

“I think we have the space and resources to support a greater population, especially in Townsville and probably across the rest of regional North Queensland,” he said.

Like Ms O’Toole, Mr Dwyer said jobs needed to be available in Townsville if people were to move here.

“What we need to do is broaden the base of our economic activity and part of that is securing water and securing affordable energy,” he said.

“Part of that would also be securing the right mix ( of jobs) to attract those migrants to a city like Townsville.”

Mr Dwyer said Townsville “would need to step up a bit”.

“But I think Townsville has the capacity and right attitude to accommodate those people in jobs, construction and residential housing,” he said.

Mr Tudge said more engagement with the states was needed to better manage population.