Australia’s plan to recruit workers from Britain to fill more than 30,000 job vacancies has been met with overseas backlash.
The British Medical Association is up in arms over a plan to lure thousands of doctors from the UK to Western Australia, to help with staffing shortages.
A Western Australia delegation, led by Police and Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia, is set to visit the UK later this month, with the aim of recruiting more doctors, miners, plumbers, builders, teachers and mechanics.
Mr Papalia said WA is a fantastic place to work, with a campaign promising Brit’s can expect cheaper energy bills, and higher wages if they make the move.
“We are here to steal your workers by offering them a better life in one of the most beautiful places on the planet,” Mr Papalia said.
“Our wages are higher and our cost of living is lower. Our health system is world-class.
“Most of Perth’s population lives a short drive form the beach. There are no tolls on our roads. We don’t have anything close to what would be considered a traffic jam by UK standards.”
The main lure for British workers is the significant pay difference between the UK and Western Australia.
A nurse is paid 58 per cent more in Australia than in the UK and doctors can earn an extra 82 per cent down under than they can in Britain.
Bills and the cost of living crisis will also be a bargaining point, with the average electricity bill in WA around AUD$2000 less than a British power bill per year.
However, the poaching of essential health staff will hit the UK National Health Service while they’re down, as exhausted health workers continue to leave the industry understaffed.
Around 12,000 doctors, and more than 50,000 nurses and midwives have reportedly left the industry, sparking concerns from the British Medical Association.
In December, the Association revealed almost a third of junior doctors in the UK had plans to leave the country, with Australia and New Zealand the most popular choices for relocation.
UK politicians have hit back at Western Australia’s bid, saying Mr Papalia’s definition of “stealing” workers was unfortunate.
Conservative MP and Chairman of the Health Select Committee Steve Brine said any country was entitled to import health care workers from overseas, as the UK does themselves.
“But there’s nothing to say our people have to go,” he said.
Tory MP Paul Bristow said the UK needed to demonstrate benefits of working in the country to keep them there.
“It shows that we need to redouble our efforts to recruit new nurses, new doctors and demonstrate the benefits a career in the UK offers,” he said.
National chairman of the UK Police Federation, Steve Hartshorn expressed concern about police officers moving in “this time of crisis.”
“The impact of these experienced and trained officers leaving will also affect the ability of those newer in service to learn and develop, and to provide the best service possible to the public.”
Western Australia is facing a job crisis of its own, with unemployment figures unexpectedly rising 0.1 per cent over the last two months.
Mr Papalia highlighted the beauty of moving to Western Australia, tempting Brits with hospitality down under.
“Perth is a beautiful, clean and vibrant city, with food, bars, pubs and restaurants to cater to all tastes,” he said.
“We have free buses in our entertainment precincts and business district.
