economic prosperity – but is immigration the best solution to skilling

up for the ongoing resources boom? Woodside Petroleum, the nation’s

second-largest oil and gas producer, has already reported a A$1.1

billion cost blowout in setting up its Pluto liquefied natural gas

project due to unforeseen labour costs. And this may be just the

beginning as bottlenecks look likely to delay future mining and energy

projects. To meet demand, Australia must face up to the structural shift

in its economy and encourage workers to move away from uncompetitive

industries, suggests Australian School of Business economist Nigel

Stapledon.