We have recently had a number of articles about 457 visas and also about feared changes to the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act ( EPBC). Currently the Business Council of Australia is making a fuss about where the government is going with this and the mass media is supporting them and generally giving Ms Gillard unseemly treatment - so we may assume that there is a chance that the Gillard Government is up to some good.
The Financial Review on 14 June 2013 ran a front page article that the 'BCA slams last gasp legislation'.
"The Business Council of Australia is pleading with independents and the Senate to consider the national interest and reject the last minute frenzy of 'anti-business' legislation being rushed through the final days of Parliament."
[Noting that it was] " ...particularly concerned about planned changes to the system of 457 temporary visas for skilled workers and amendments to make it illegal for the federal government to effectively hand over its environmental approval powers to state governments."
So, what's going on?
Changes proposed to 457 visas:
· Employers must demonstrate that they are not nominating positions where a genuine shortage does not exist;
· The English language requirements for certain positions have been raised;
· The enforceability of existing training requirements for businesses that use the program will be strengthened;
· The market salary exemption will rise from $180,000 to $250,000;
· On-hire arrangements of 457 Visa workers will be banned;
· Compliance and enforcement powers will be beefed up to deal with employers who have abused the 457 system; and
· Stakeholders will be consulted to ensure market rate provisions more effectively protect local employment
The Liberal Opposition is opposing these measures.
Preventing States from taking over Federal Environmental powers
In relation to the environment, the Labor Government is wants to maintain the Commonwealth’s environmental standards under Commonwealth law and policy, retaining its overall responsibility for protecting matters of national environmental significance.
If States get control of the environment as well as over water and land, which they already have, then we can expect the same vandalism currently tearing Queensland apart under the Campbell Newman State Government.
Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 2013-06-14 23:24
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How could we have all these skill shortages?
Holman (not verified)
Tue, 2013-06-18 20:56
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457 visas, some details and questions
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