SE Queensland is full, go back home migrants!

Ekka · 20th April 2007, 10:52 PM

http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...697092039.html

Quote:

Welcome to Queensland, if you're a skilled worker

Cosima Marriner
April 21, 2007

QUEENSLAND Premier Peter Beattie says he would love to vet the people flooding into south-east Queensland from Sydney and Melbourne, amid a growing backlash in the state against southerners.

As tough stage 5 water restrictions bite, traffic congestion builds and house prices rise, there is mounting resentment in the Sunshine State that interstate migrants are ruining the very lifestyle they came for.

Queensland is expected to overtake Victoria as the second-biggest state in Australia, behind NSW, by 2031.

The Queensland Government is treading a fine line between needing migration to prolong the state's economic boom, and suffering an electoral backlash because it has not provided the infrastructure to support the population growth. It is now trying to solve this dilemma by dissuading anyone but skilled workers from moving north.

Mr Beattie told The Age it would be "wonderful" if he could choose who moved into south-east Queensland. "I would love to do that, but I don't think I'm ever going to have the power to do that," he said. "Legally, you can't stop them."

With $80 billion in infrastructure to be built over the next 20 years, the Beattie Government is "unashamedly" sending out the signal that only skilled workers are welcome. "If you've got skills, if you've got investment, then come. But if you haven't got skills, then it's probably not a great time to come," he said. "Hold your entry till later."

Mr Beattie said it was "unfortunate" that Queensland had attracted job-seekers rather than skilled workers. "We've had some people who know this is the land of plenty in terms of jobs but they don't have the skills." Queensland Government representatives will head to Melbourne in the middle of the year to recruit hundreds of skilled workers from all trades and professions.

Demographer Bernard Salt said that after 20 years of population growth and insufficient government investment in infrastructure, people in south-east Queensland were "revolting". "They're saying: 'No, we've had enough'," Mr Salt said. "There is that almost siege mentality evolving in south-east Queensland around the most basic infrastructure — roads, power and water. Each of those seems to be at breaking point at the moment."

Callers to talkback radio complain the region has reached capacity, drivers with interstate number plates are abused in traffic jams and website forums blame migrants for sapping resources and straining infrastructure. "We don't have enough water or housing for the people that are already here and with more people coming, it is just making it so much harder for us that live here," Helen H. said in a recent debate on the Brisbane Courier-Mail website. "It is ruining the lovely lifestyle that used to be our Brisbane. We need to turn back the clock."

Peter C. asked: "With an armageddon of water only at best 20 months away, why have we not stopped all migrants coming to the south-east corner each week?"

Mr Beattie said his Government's South-East Regional Plan would "adequately" cater for the extra million people expected to swell the population to 4 million by 2026. The plan sets population, jobs and infrastructure targets for each local government area and protects more than 60 per cent of the region from urban development. The Government is confident its recycled water pipeline will be completed before the end of next year when the region could run dry.

The irony is that the population pressures are becoming acute in south-east Queensland just as interstate migration slows. The number of people arriving in the region has fallen from 1500 a week to 1200. "It gives us a bit more breathing space," Mr Beattie said. "But we'll deliver the infrastructure on time for the people here, regardless of whether there is a slowing (in migration) or not."

Maybe Mr Beattie if you cared to licence and regulate our industry you wouldn't have such an influx of hack tree workers.

Can I just buy a car and whack a taxi light on the roof?

Can I just rent a corner store and sell alcohol and cigarettes?

Can I just buy a string line and some hand tools and build fences?

Can I go to Bunnings buy some paint rollers and brushes and paint houses etc?

Maybe stop blaming the unskilled and start blaming your poor regulations. Good tradesman and skilled workers actually leave the place to ... undercut by hacks and supported by uneducated consumers.

Oh, you also forgot to mention the number of non-Australian migrants that dont need visa's ... like NZ passport holders.

a_lopa · 20th April 2007, 11:01 PM

You dont want us mexicans anymore Ekka

Ekka · 20th April 2007, 11:18 PM

Need to get GWB over here and build a big fence, one 35,000 feet high that stops aircraft too.

JohN Dee · 21st April 2007, 02:58 AM

Ekka, why not start an internet petition and send it throughout all of the forums you participate in aswell as add the link to your videos, sure there are barely any aussies on these arb forums but even the international guys could sign as I dont recall the petitions asking for country. Then send them printed off on paper to the local, state and federal parliament.

This year more then ever there has been so many hacks, what it is, is they get their huge gum trees cut down, see how fast the business completes it and for the price, they go and hock their house for a 12-18inch chipper, big chip truck, a big ladder and a "one handed saw" and away they go, then they have the hide to put on their trucks/adverts "Qualified Arborist" - my a$$.

a_lopa · 21st April 2007, 11:19 PM

Theres a fair bit more heavy equipment (chippers especialy)around than there was 10yrs ago.

You couldnt pick up a second hand 12" bandit/etc under 35k in good order, now the same machines are 25k thats in 5 years.

Theres alot of part time people doing trees!

Got asked the other day if i could do stumps/mulching for a guy that lives 1/2 hour away,he said all he aims to do is pay for his new landcruiser and beer money doing trees weekends as he has a good job 9-5

20th April 2007, 11:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
a_lopa Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 876	You dont want us mexicans anymore Ekka __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory Drouin tree lopping, land clearing and stump removals

20th April 2007, 11:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,916	Need to get GWB over here and build a big fence, one 35,000 feet high that stops aircraft too. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

21st April 2007, 02:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
JohN Dee Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 750	Ekka, why not start an internet petition and send it throughout all of the forums you participate in aswell as add the link to your videos, sure there are barely any aussies on these arb forums but even the international guys could sign as I dont recall the petitions asking for country. Then send them printed off on paper to the local, state and federal parliament. This year more then ever there has been so many hacks, what it is, is they get their huge gum trees cut down, see how fast the business completes it and for the price, they go and hock their house for a 12-18inch chipper, big chip truck, a big ladder and a "one handed saw" and away they go, then they have the hide to put on their trucks/adverts "Qualified Arborist" - my a$$. __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

21st April 2007, 11:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
a_lopa Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Drouin Posts: 876	Theres a fair bit more heavy equipment (chippers especialy)around than there was 10yrs ago. You couldnt pick up a second hand 12" bandit/etc under 35k in good order, now the same machines are 25k thats in 5 years. Theres alot of part time people doing trees! Got asked the other day if i could do stumps/mulching for a guy that lives 1/2 hour away,he said all he aims to do is pay for his new landcruiser and beer money doing trees weekends as he has a good job 9-5 __________________ Free Tree Industry Link Directory Drouin tree lopping, land clearing and stump removals

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