The government has introduced a new "temporary skills shortage" visa (TSS) to replace the 457 visa. (SBS picture)
The federal government declared last year that many jobs "can and should" be left to Australians, but hundreds of foreigners were offered these "Australian-only" jobs.
More than 200 jobs, including butchers, pilots, engineers and web designers, were removed from the previously controversial 457 temporary skilled immigrant visa program last April, according to the Messenger Post. The government has introduced a new "temporary skills shortage" visa (TSS) to replace the 457 visa.
But immigration figures show that nearly 700 foreigners were still granted visas to Australia for jobs withdrawn from the 457 program. And most of them are in more than 20 jobs, just a few months after the government announced it was no longer hiring foreigners, and quietly added to the list of skilled professionals, including butchers and pilots. Horse trainers and retail buyers, etc.
Federal opposition immigration spokesman Newman (Shayne Neumann) accused the government of hasty new plans.
"this is an insult to Australian workers-the Liberal Party has refused to address the growing number of overseas people getting temporary labour visas, which puts too many Australians at the end of the job search line."
He also declared: "these problems could have been avoided if the government, which was out of touch with the people, hastily announced its decision in April last year and sought the views of affected stakeholders."
Immigration Secretary Coleman (David Coleman) did not comment on the matter. But a spokesman for the Home Office said the list of skilled workers` visas would be regularly reviewed in line with changes in the labour market.
"the Immigration Department updates the [occupation list] on the basis of the latest information from the Employment and small Business Department`s review report, including labour market analysis and public consultation," the spokesman said.
In April last year, Mr. (Malcolm Turnbull), then prime minister, praised the temporary skilled immigrant visa reform, saying that the visa had lost credibility and would "no longer be used as a passport that can and should be left to Australians for work."
Indians were reported to have received the most 457 visas last year, accounting for 20 percent of the total, followed by Britons and Americans.
The visa program officially ended last month with a TSS visa, which makes it harder for foreigners to use it as a back door to permanent residency in Australia.
