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Future of state may rely on skilled foreign staff
QUEENSLAND could be forced to lure overseas specialists to the state if it is to complete its $55 billion 20-year infrastructure plan on time.
The State Government has begun discussions with the private sector and universities in an attempt to ensure enough engineers and other professional tradespeople enter the workforce over the next two decades.
Premier Peter Beattie said, however, that the Government would recruit from overseas to fill areas with skills shortages if necessary to ensure the South-East Queensland Regional Plan was completed.
He said the recruitment campaign would be similar to the advertising blitz aimed at luring overseas medicos to Queensland.
"Because it's over 20 years we think we can build up to it, but we will do some overseas recruiting for engineers if we have to," Mr Beattie said.
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18262210%255E5003180,00.html
