From the charming tech sector, via AFR:
Prominent members of Australia’s fast-growing technology sector have voiced fears that a Peter Dutton prime ministership could be disastrous for fledgling and established companies, arguing that a tougher stance on immigration and a lurch to the political right would make the country less appealing for overseas workers with in-demand skills…Craig Blair, co-founder and managing partner of Australia’s largest tech venture capital fund, Airtree Ventures, said the merry-go-round of prime ministers and ministers had been a choke on long-term policy thinking for too long.
…Jonathan Barouch, founder of social media customer intelligence firm Local Measure, said he would be looking for any change of leader to offer up policy consistency and an open attitude to immigration.
…Airtree co-founder Daniel Petre, who is also a board member at government body Innovation and Science Australia, was scathing of the negative impact a Dutton-led government would have on the viability of Australia’s aspirations for an innovation-led economy.
To be clear, I’m a big fan of innovators and tech. One of the reasons is that it is high value-add and delivers super margins. We could do with a lot more of it.
But let’s face it, if it is reliant upon cheap foreign labour to function then it is neither of those things and isn’t worth having. Why would we support what is a tiny section of industry if it costs the other 99.9% of Australians in lower living standards via lower wages, higher house prices and crush-loaded environments?
If these tech firms can’t afford to train locals then they belong in Bangalore.
