Interview with Catherine Murphy - ABC News breakfast

CATHERINE MURPHY, HOST:    And we're joined by the Employment Minister, Amanda Rishworth. Good morning to you, Minister. Farmers are not happy with the changes to backpacker visas. They're warning it could threaten our food security and affect costs. Will the cost of food rise?

AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS:    Look, I don't accept the premise of what's being put forward. We have taken a responsible approach to migration, a sustainable approach to migration. I mean, what's really clear is there will still be access to backpackers. Indeed, backpackers in their second and third year will have to work in regional areas. There is also a number of other places that people can get agricultural workers. And I'd point to the PALM scheme, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme, a really important scheme that's potentially underutilised. And so, I'd encourage farmers to have a look at that scheme because there is opportunity. But more broadly, when it comes to migration, it is about taking a response that ensures that we have integrity in the system, that we have compliance in the system.

The measures are, there are a number of measures, including, for example, restricting students from hopping from course to course, making sure that overstayers do leave the country. These are really important measures and are broadly about compliance but also integrity in the system.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    So, Minister, you were saying that these backpackers who took up so many jobs on farms, they'll be easily replaced. Is that what you're saying? What is the modelling saying?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Backpackers are still going to be able to come to Australia. Let's be really clear about this. And in years two and three, there is a ballot system where workers will have to work in regional areas, so this has been carefully calibrated to think about the impact it will have on our economy. You know, we've got other parties out there that are putting forward ideas that will destroy the economy. This has been carefully calibrated to ensure that our migration levels are sustainable, that we do have important integrity and compliance measures in place.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    Why risk it when the cost of living is such an issue and when farmers are saying this will threaten that because it will push up the cost of food?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    need to ensure that our migration system is sustainable. We are not doing what the Liberal Party and other parties are doing by sort of making this into a political football. We're taking responsible measures around compliance and integrity to ensure that we have a sustainable migration system. That's really important and that the integrity is there and there's confidence there. As I said, there are programs such as PALM that are available to the agricultural sector that, you know, could be utilised more. And so I’d encourage people to explore the PALM program. It provides the right worker settings in place, it supports some- workers from the Pacific to come here. That is being underutilised. I would encourage people to look at that program.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    Is there a concern though that Aussie backpackers could face retaliation from other countries because with these caps on numbers, there will be less backpackers who will be allowed to stay on in Australia? Aussie backpackers are all over the world right now and they're very popular, I will add. Could they face issues because other countries say, well, we'll tighten our backpacker visas for Australians?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, we've seen a significant growth in backpackers. There are still backpackers coming to Australia. I mean, I think that's what's really important. We just want to ensure they're working in regional areas. I don't think we should miss the point that there are still backpackers coming to Australia. And so we have been, of course, having those backpackers, but what we're saying is that in years two and three there will be a ballot system and they will have to work in regional Australia.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    Yes, but we're talking about Australians going overseas and hoping to continue to do so. Do you fear that there could be changes to Aussie backpacker visas because of what Australia's doing?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    I'm not going to speculate on settings overseas. I know that Australian workers are often really welcome. We have countries that put restrictions in place all the time on Australians and others. What my focus is on is ensuring that we have the right settings here in Australia. I know that's what the minister is focused on when it comes to a sustainable migration system that has integrity and compliance at the heart of it.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    You're hosting an AI roundtable today with some of Australia's top employers. What are you hoping to achieve from that?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, what we're doing in a tripartite way is ensuring that we are looking at what does best practice mean when it comes to adopting AI in the workplace. We know that there is some nervousness from both businesses but also employees about how their job might change when it comes to AI. And so to ensure that we do understand, how do you do that well? How do you get best practice? How do you support employees? How do you consult with them? How do you make sure that they are given the capabilities to actually take up AI in their jobs?

CATHERINE MURPHY:    Minister, you're hosting a number of major employers, as I said, including Commonwealth Bank, Telstra. You talk about nervousness of employees and trying to reassure them. That's going to come a little bit late, isn't it, because those companies have already made major cuts due to AI. Is this too late?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    We know Jobs and Skills Australia has said while there may be some jobs that go as a result of AI, the vast majority of jobs are going to be augmented. So, that means AI is going to become part of your job. How do you support employees to have that be incorporated into your job? What is the support and training that is being provided? What does consultation look like with employees? To suggest that it's already finished and this transformation is already finished isn't right. There is so much transformation going on. We need to ensure that workers have the confidence that when AI is adopted in the workplace, that it will be done in a way that is best practice that actually ensures that workers are supported.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    And just finally, before we let you go, it could be that Australia could follow in the footsteps of Canada. The EU are open to Australia becoming an associate member. Do you think that's a good idea?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, look, obviously those discussions will happen. I think Australia as a country, more generally, we punch above our weight. We are a big contributor to global discussions, and I think we have a really important role to play.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    So you think it’s a good idea?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, I think that Australia is a country that is a force for good in the world and we can make a big contribution in wherever we are.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    It could be a handy place to discuss any backpacker visa issues as well. What do you think?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    'm not expecting there to be issues, but of course we play an important role in multilateral forums. Our government and our country has always been important in multilateral forums, in discussions around the world. And we will continue, I think, to play an active role wherever we can.

CATHERINE MURPHY:    Minister, thank you so much for your time this morning.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Thank you.