Government abolishing 457 visas, Malcolm Turnbull says

Admin

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.



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

Admin

other source https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/35072811/government-to-abolish-457-visa-turnbull