THE denial of a full-time skilled migration officer for the Murraylands by the State Population Migration unit is at odds with the region’s outlook, according to Murraylands Regional Development Board chief executive Brenton Lewis.

“We haven’t got the people in our region to fill the jobs for the growth we’re expecting,” he said.

While the State Government has allocated part of its 2008-09 Budget to source migrant labour from the Philippines, a MRDB request to the unit, which is embedded in the Department of Trade and Economic Development, has failed to secure a dedicated officer for the Murraylands.

Instead, the MRBD has been told to better manage the time share of an existing skilled migration officer, currently working between the Murraylands and the Riverland.

Mr Lewis said the response did not address their request at all.

“We believe we had a very strong argument,” he said.

Mr Lewis said skilled migrants would boost employment levels in regional areas, particularly for industries that were struggling to fill positions.

While some skilled migration is already underway, a full-time skilled migration officer would assist in sourcing international labour specific to businesses in need.

He also said their request contained a high amount of detail towards sourcing and employing skilled migrants for the Murraylands, and directed potential labour “down almost to the naming of the business”.

“We’re very keen on people who want to come to live, work, and settle to help build the community,” Mr Lewis said.