'Driving me insane': restaurateur slams migrant debate

David Bitton, a successful French-born restaurateur, moved to Australia in 1991 as a skilled migrant. He began his career in Sydney's hospitality industry and eventually opened his own chain of restaurants. Bitton is frustrated by the current immigration policies, which he believes make it difficult for skilled migrants to stay in the country.

He argues that Australia's culture around hospitality means that migrants are crucial for filling gaps in the industry, particularly in chef and waitstaff roles. Bitton's cafe, which employs a multicultural workforce, serves as a community hub. The Australian government, including the Coalition and One Nation, has proposed various policies to reduce migration and reconsider the role of international students and tradespeople.

Labor aims to redesign the skilled migration points test to value housing construction trade qualifications equally with a university degree. However, Bitton is tired of the ongoing debate and feels deflated by the treatment of entrepreneurs, particularly in the hospitality sector.