The Government is abolishing 457 visas, says Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
In an announcement posted on Facebook, Mr Turnbull said the visas for skilled migrants would be replaced with a new temporary visa with added requirements, including work experience and better English-language skills.
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmalcolmturnbull%2Fvideos%2F10155311599176579%2F&width=500&show_text=false&appId=858665247510267&height=280" width="500" height="280" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>
The new visa would be "specifically designed to recruit the best and the brightest in the national interest", he said.
The announcement follows a crackdown on 457 visas last month, when Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the Government would scrap the fast-track arrangements in place for 457 skilled work visas for fast food chains.
The latest figures from the Immigration Department stated there had been a drop in 457 visas holders in Australia to 95,758 in September 2016.
The majority of the visa holders were from India, which accounted for almost a quarter of the intake, followed by the UK and China at 19.5 per cent and 5.8 per cent respectively.
"We are an immigration nation, but the fact remains: Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs," he said.
More to come.
source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-18/government-abolishing-457-visas/8450310