Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It might be funny for the coalition that there are people unemployed in Western Australia, but I can tell you that for Western Australians it is not funny. Kevin continued, 'I am a 51-year-old seafarer. My chances of getting another job in the industry are bleak. It amazes me that the coalition wants to deregulate 457 visas in this sector.'

Kevin is one of hundreds of workers on the Wheatstone Project that are working on pipelaying vessels and on supply tenders. These workers would normally have expected to go on to the next WA project in the Ichthus, but the Italian company subcontracting that work for INPEX is now indicating that they will be using foreign crews. There are already hundreds of qualified and experienced seafarers looking for work in WA. Soon there will be hundreds more. This legislation most unfairly undermines their chances of work. Let us hope the Senate blocks this ridiculous legislation.

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