One of the more curious demands has been for the government to spend more to swell our intake of skilled workers. A group of CEOs reportedly told The Australian that more should be done to get skills into the country from abroad.

Woodside chairman Don Voelte echoed the call yesterday, telling reports at the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association's (APPEA) conference that the LNG sector faced potential "cost and schedule blowouts" due to labour constraints.

These are curious demands. While the skills shortage in the resource states grows more urgent by the day, the Department of Immigration has hung out its 'All welcome!' sign and, ostensibly, is waiting for more companies to apply.

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