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NEWS

457 visa class scrapped

Australia’s resources sec- “This will ensure Austral-
tor won’t be greatly im- ian workers are given the ab-

pacted by the Government’s solute first priority for jobs,

“putting Australian workers while businesses will be

first” stance which will see able to temporarily access

the abolishment of the 457 the critical skills they need

visas, according to senior to grow if skilled Australians

lecturer, Discipline of Work workers are not available,”

and Organisational Studies the Government said.

at the University of Sydney, “The new visa will also

Dr Chris Wright. include a strengthened

High wages and a lack of training obligation for em-

skilled people in Australia ployers sponsoring foreign

to fill positions in the indus- skilled workers to provide

try were major talking points enhanced training outcomes

during the last mining boom for Australians in high-need

in Australia, which stirred industries and occupations.

debate around the issuing of Australia has abolished the Subclass 457 Visa and replaced it with the These changes will give Aus-

457 visas to foreign workers. Temporary Skill Shortage Visa. The new visa will include mandatory tralian job seekers more op-

“I don’t think the changes criminal checks and tighter English language requirements portunity to find work while

will have a big impact on the finding the right balance so

resources sector. In 2005-06 7.2% of all cording to the employer demand, the businesses can prosper by acquiring the

457 visas issued were for jobs in mining downturn in mining has diminished expertise they need.”

but in 2015-16 mining accounted for only mining employers’ use of the scheme. Resources industry employer group,

2.4% [which equates to 1,090 visas for There has been a less dramatic decline AMMA, welcomed the Government’s

primary applicants],” Wright told Paydirt. in industries connected to mining such move, saying the new temporary immi-

“Since the 457 visa is regulated ac- as construction [down from 8.8% in gration programme would help ensure

2005-06 to 6.6% in skilled migrants, and the significant

2015-16]. None of contribution they make in Australia, “is

the top nominated no longer trivialised and leveraged for

occupations for the cheap political point-scoring”.

457 visa in 2015-16 “If today’s announcement is at all ef-

were mining indus- fective at silencing the cheap politics and

try jobs – instead scaremongering that has taken place

they were ones as- around temporary skilled migration in re-

sociated with the IT, cent years, AMMA would welcome that

hospitality, health outcome,” acting AMMA chief execu-

and business ser- tive Tara Diamond said in a release last

vices sectors.” month.

Instead of the “The resource industry is one sector

Subclass 457 visa, that has seen a dramatic change in la-

a new Temporary bour demand and skills availability in re-

Skill Shortage Visa cent years. The same temporary skilled

programme has migration programmes that were critical

been introduced, to filling crippling skills shortages during

classed as Short the major project investment and con-

Term (two years) struction boom, have more recently seen

and Medium Term numbers drop to almost non-existent, as

(four years) visas. skills and labour pressures have eased.”

Both visas will be According to Department of Immigra-

subject to labour tion figures, the resources industry made

market testing, with 6,630 applications for 457 visas in 2011-

tightened English 12; 2,600 in 2013-14 and 230 in 2016-17.

requirements, a “Clearly, any groups characterising the

condition to be met 457 Visa programme as detracting from

by Medium Term Australian job opportunities have been

visa applicants in- misinformed at best, and acting mischie-

tending to fill ar- vously at worse,” Diamond said.

eas of critical skills – Mark Andrews
shortages in Aus-

tralia.

PAGE 6 MAY 2017 AUSTRALIA’S PAYDIRT