The government is deploying recruitment officers overseas to bring thousands of the best and brightest workers to Australia.
Immigration Minister David Coleman has revealed one officer is in place in Berlin, Germany, with more to be sent next month to the United States, Singapore, Santiago, Shanghai and Dubai.
Their task is to recruit 5,000 professionals at the top of their fields in target industries, particularly the tech sector.
"Home Affairs officers will be placed in key overseas locations to seek out the very best people in high growth industries, and encourage them to come to Australia to help grow those industries," Mr Coleman said.
"By attracting the very best in high growth industries, we will help to build businesses that will employ large numbers of Australians in high skill, high wage jobs."
Immigration Minister David Coleman with Prime Minister Scott Morrison want more highly-skilled overseas workers. Source: AAP
Mr Coleman will spruik the potential benefits of the Global Talent Independent Program, which was announced last year, at a speech at the Sydney Institute on Tuesday night.
The government has set aside 5,000 of the 160,000 places in the permanent migration stream for the new program.
According to the Home Affairs website, the global talent officers will work with local industries to identify talented people and "attend key industry events and expos, and promote life in Australia".
Highly-skilled workers identified by Home Affairs will be encouraged to apply for existing permanent visas including the distinguished talent and skilled independent visa.
The announcement follows the government's decision to entrench a pilot visa scheme designed to make it easier for the tech industry to recruit highly-skilled workers despite a low take up.
Australian Immigration Minister David Coleman. February 20, 2019. Source: AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Of the 23 businesses that have signed up, just five are startups, with the majority being established businesses including Coles Supermarkets and Rio Tinto.
