STAFFING and investment levels are set to be boosted at the Blue Lake Dairy Group at Tantanoola if State Industry Minister David Ridgway succeeds in lobbying the Federal Government to change its skilled migrant policy.
Mr Ridgway will lodge a submission with the Federal Government by the end of the month and it is sure to mention the Princes Highway plant which has a current workforce of 25 which produces adult milk powder and infant formula.
The minister is well aware of the skilled labour shortage facing the Blue Lake Dairy Group as he visited the plant for a briefing yesterday.
Mr Ridgway met with company officials on this issue in Adelaide a few months ago and they were accompanied by their advisor and retired Beachport politician Bob Sneath.
“We will be putting in a strong submission (regarding working visas) and making a special case for South Australia,” Mr Ridgway said.
“The Council of Australian Government meets on February 8.
“There are skill shortages everywhere in South Australia and it is holding back economic development.
“The Premier saw the skill shortages when we recently went on a drought tour.”
Blue Lake Dairy Group administration manager Sarah Barnett said she wanted the governments to pay attention to the development of the dairy products industry.
Ms Barnett said South Australia had a lack of human resources and changes should be made to working visa arrangements in order for it to be easier for skilled people to come to the state.
“We are still looking to recruit skilled people,” Ms Barnett said.
She said her company was exporting adult milk products but was still awaiting the approval to export some of its infant formula to China.
“We lodged our application for infant formula to approved in September 2017.
“It has not been approved yet because of a restructure of Chinese authorities.”
Such approval is one of the conditions for the Tantanoola factory to move into stage two.
While in the region over the past two days, Mr Ridgway also visited Mount Gambier High School and commercial premises at Penola, Naracoorte and Bordertown.
He also inspected the site of the proposed Nora Creina golf course and said it was awaiting development approval.
Mr Ridgway is the government leader in the Upper House and also holds the Tourism and Investment portfolios.
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said Mr Ridgway’s visit was a positive way for businesses and the State Government to discuss key issues.
