THE future of the Blue Lake Dairy Group is in jeopardy as strict new work visa requirements leave the company’s operations director and major stakeholder Ryan Zhang facing deportation.
Following changes to Australian visas, the powdered milk processing plant’s senior manager is likely to fail the English language test component, which is now a part of the skilled visa eligibility criteria.
According to the Home Affairs Department, visa applicants for the new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa are required to demonstrate they meet “certain minimum standards of English language requirements” through one of five tests.
Mr Zhang, who is of Chinese background, is unlikely to pass.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Zhang, Blue Lake Dairy Group assistant operations director Sarah Barnett said the company was hopeful of a visa approval, but conceded it was “impossible” with the current conditions.
Ms Barnett said although exemptions apply, it was unlikely Mr Zhang was eligible for exclusion.
“Ryan has worked in Australia for four years without high English skills, he has invested into the country, he pays tax and now the TSS visa comes in and someone like him will have to leave the country because there is no chance of him passing the English test,” she said.
“The level required is quite high and if I tried to do the test, I probably would not pass it.
“Ryan is trying to learn English every day and he has already tried to study it for six months, but he is 56 years old, he has a factory to run and he does not have all the time to study.
“He is not required to speak English to manage the factory.
“It is a shame and he is feeling very disappointed that this policy is in place.
“The visa changes are a big thing and they have a very big impact on people like Ryan who have money, skills and invest in Australia, who then have to leave Australia because of the visa condition.”
In January 2017, the Chinese-owned Blue Lake Dairy Group opened the Tantanoola plant in what was expected to be a $65m, two-stage expansion.
The $15m first stage enabled the production of 20,000 tonnes of infant and adult formula using powdered milk.
The next stage of the project is expected to involve the construction of a factory to convert milk into powder.
Contrary to metropolitan media reports, Ms Barnett said the factory would not relocate to New Zealand but said the planned $50m upgrade of operations at the Tantanoola plant were under a cloud as a result.
She said Mr Zhang himself was considering relocating to New Zealand, which would leave his current position of operations director vacant.
“It is definitely going to impact on operations because there is no one that can replace his position,” she said.
“We need to hire someone who is able to speak Chinese because our major market is in China.
“We did put an application out for the position and we only had eight application, none of them can speak Chinese and none had relevant experience.
“Our second stage includes a $50m investment to create at least another 60 job opportunities for locals, but if Ryan has to leave, this is not going to happen.”
Ms Barnett said Mr Zhang, who is currently on a bridging visa after his 457 visa expired earlier this month, had applied for the TSS visa regardless.
“We went to the Immigration Department and the South Australian Government and there is nothing they can do,” she said.
“I have had at least two meetings with Tony Pasin who said he cannot do anything further, but he provided us with a supporting letter.
“From our side, we hope there can be a ministerial intervention where an exception can be made for someone who has made a significant impact on the local economy.
“We hope something can happen so we can keep someone like Ryan, who has skills and investment in the country because it is beneficial for the region and Australia.
“We will have to wait and see.”
