Is there a shortage of IT skills in Australia?

This article was published in June of 2002
http://www.philipson.info/files/f020618skills.doc

Graeme Philipson, the author, begins with

Is there a shortage of IT skills in Australia? It depends who you listen to.

He argues that the 'skills shortage' is a myth, created by business to justify outsourcing overseas and to get consent for work visa's in this area. His main evidence comes from asking people looking for work in the industry, not from employers.

Problem is, this consensus come from industry, not from people looking for IT work. There is a school of thought that says that many in the IT industry are manufacturing fears of an IT shortage to get handouts from government and to be able to hire cheaper immigrant labour. IT companies. They do not wish to train people, even graduates, because this costs money.

I know that it is hard for schools to find suitably skilled IT people to look after their networks. Maybe that is because the pay is poor? Maybe there really is s skills shortage.

Soooooo

Is there really a shortage of IT skills in South Australia?