Is the Federal Government's new scheme to bring skilled migrants to Perth the solution to the worker shortage?

The Federal Government will today announce a scheme to recruit skilled overseas workers to address the chronic shortage of workers in WA.

Australia's former Governor General Michael Jeffery says the world is on the brink of a massive food and water shortage. He told a meeting in Perth that global governments are largely unprepared for the crisis. Major General Jeffery says the shortages are likely to cause significant conflict.

The Federal Government says a new, multi-million dollar training centre in Perth will help shift the focus from skilled migration to training as the way to ease Western Australia's skilled labour shortage.

A business owner in Western Australia's north says detainees at the Curtin detention centre could be used to help local shops suffering from a chronic labour shortage.

Mining industry chiefs in Queensland and Western Australia have teamed up to adress the chronic shortage of skilled workers.

The real estate industry has welcomed a plan for the government to partner with the private sector to relieve the housing shortage.

The State Government has been criticised for failing to secure the energy needs of the Pilbara region.

The State Government has announced it will sponsor 6,000 skilled migrants this year to tackle Western Australia's skills shortage.

A major supermarket chain says its stores throughout Western Australia are still dealing with the fall out from a flooded rail line in South Australia.

A worker at a remote community store in Western Australia's central desert says there is no need for food to be airlifted into the town.

The construction of 80 new homes in the Karratha suburb of Tambrey is a step closer, with the State Government awarding the contract to a private developer.

Research by Bankwest indicates 40 per cent of businesses in Western Australia and Queensland are being affected by skills shortages.

The Water Corporation says water levels in Carnarvon's storage tanks are now very low and may become intermittent from 6:00 pm this evening.

The State Government has announced almost $25 million for additional training places to help ease the Western Australia's skills shortage.

The Federal Minister for Regional Development has visited Karratha during a tour of Western Australia's North West.

The Minister for Training and Workforce Development, Peter Collier, says Western Australia is facing a labour shortage despite an increase in the number of apprenticeships being undertaken.

The Master Builders Association says the building industry needs a guarantee that investing in training is worthwhile, with workers expected to be poached by the resources sector in increasing numbers.

Federal Minister for School Education Peter Garrett says 58 new vocational training facilities around Australia for secondary school students will help address the skills shortage facing the country.

The Australian Medical Association says Perth's GP shortage will continue to worsen unless the Federal Government makes general practice more attractive to doctors.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry says Western Australia is facing a severe skills shortage as it enters another mining boom.

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth says it has been forced to cancel some elective surgery because of staff shortages.

The State Government will work closely with Western Australia's peak industry body and the mining sector on a new strategy to alleviate future skill and labour shortages.

A national home building organisation says while there has been significant growth in the industry, there may be a housing shortage unless more land is released.

The Shire of Roebourne says the acute accommodation shortage in Karratha will ease with the awarding of a contract to build accommodation for 1,000 workers.