Work for migrants, but nowhere to live

THE South Australian town of Murray Bridge has hundreds of jobs for skilled migrants and refugees but few houses to accommodate them.

With the federal Government planning to lure 97,500 skilled migrants to plug gaps in trades, the case of Murray Bridge, 78km from Adelaide, highlights the need for regional infrastructure.

"I have between 150 and 200 unemployed refugees on my books who would start tomorrow (at Murray Bridge) if they could, but accommodation is the issue," said Hafez Zemani, the Adelaide-based employment manager with the Australian Refugee Association.

From Work for migrants, but nowhere to live