Released on = November 24, 2006, 4:33 am

Press Release Author = Ryan Rebutica

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = THE Federal Government granted temporary work visas to
11,060 migrants and 9,600 of their spouses and dependents in the first quarter of
the financial year, new figures show.

Press Release Body = THE Federal Government granted temporary work visas to 11,060
migrants and 9,600 of their spouses and dependents in the first quarter of the
financial year, new figures show.

Most of the controversial 457 visas issued between July and September this year went
to migrants employed in NSW (3,770), followed by Victoria (2,480), Queensland
(2,010) and Western Australia (1,780).

People from Britain, India, the Philippines, South Africa, the US, China and Germany
led the list of visa recipients, according to the figures released by Immigration
Minister Amanda Vanstone.

The 457 visa program has been the subject of political controversy.

Labor leader Kim Beazley has claimed the scheme allows foreign workers to take the
places of Australian employees and induces bosses to drive down wages.

There have been many cases of workers on 457 visas claiming to have been underpaid
and unfairly treated by bosses who did not pay them their full entitlements.

Senator Vanstone says the 457 visa program is one response to the skills shortage,
as it allows Australian businesses to import workers from overseas if they cannot
fill vacancies locally.

Some people permitted to work in Australia on the temporary visas can eventually
transfer to permanent work visas.

The minister was in Brisbane today to promote the scheme, which she said had allowed
the Queensland Government to fill 600 vacancies in the state\'s health system last
year.

\"I\'m very concerned that Mr Beazley\'s constant attacks on the 457 visa are
undermining the desires of migrants to come to Australia,\" Senator Vanstone said.

\"It\'s interesting that in the last year, the Queensland Government sponsored some 10
per cent of 457 visa holders but in the first quarter of this year, they have
sponsored a whopping 17 per cent.

\"So there can\'t be much wrong with this visa if the Queensland Government is nearly
using one fifth of their arrivals into Queensland.\"

- The Australian - Breaking News

Web Site = http://www.nationalvisas.com.au

Contact Details = National Visas
Web site: http://www.nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3 - 118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61 (0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544