The Federal Government is planning changes to the visas to import experienced tourism and hospitality workers.
Due to the shortage of overseas students and the current boom of high-paying mining jobs, the industry is down 35,000 workers and it is predicted this will rise to over 55,000 by 2015.
Unions have attacked the government as unemployment in youth is an all-time high, and jobs have been axed in manufacturing and finance.
However, the hopsitality industry disagrees saying the jobs are there, but Australian workers lack the skill and motivation to do the right job.
Transport and Tourism Forum chief executive John Lee said: ”This is not about denying Australians the right to do the job. The jobs are there, they just don’t want to do them.”