Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a question without notice for the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. I refer the minister to Senate estimates of 30 October. Is the minister aware that the immigration department admitted that their monitoring of section 457 employers was simply to send questionnaires? Is the minister aware that in the last financial year the department visited only 18 per cent of the section 457 sites, down from 25 per cent the previous year, despite an increase in sponsors of 20 per cent? Is the minister aware that, with such inspections, the department admitted giving advance notice and, as a result, sponsors had time to cover up unlawful practices, such as workers doing unskilled work, and that rorts such as deducting exorbitant rents are being dismissed as a responsibility of the state government or the Office of Workplace Services, neither agency holding enforcement powers? Finally, could the minister agree to the necessity for reform in the light of a statement made by the manager—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Kennedy has the call, and he will come to the conclusion of his question.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

of AMH’s corporate affairs, John Berry, and I quote the Queensland Times of 27 October—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kennedy will come to his question.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I have to quote this for the minister to comment upon it.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kennedy does not have to quote.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It says:

This dumbing down of wages ...

I am quoting the AMH manager—

... has occurred through companies exploiting ... section 457 ...

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kennedy will resume his seat. I call the Attorney-General.

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am aware of the importance of the 457 visa class—

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Attorney-General will resume his seat. The member for Kennedy was asked to conclude his question. He continued to quote excessively. His question stands, and I have called the Attorney-General.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I need to quote the person. The question has no relevance without the quotation.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Kennedy is well aware that excessively long questions are out of order. I have called the Attorney-General to respond to the question.

Philip Ruddock (Berowra, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was making the observation about the importance of the 457 visa class, because the Australian economy is performing very well. As I think the member should know, we have unemployment at record lows; we have high demand for skilled workers; and we have employers looking for ways to grow their businesses and employ more people which, in turn, will create wealth and jobs for Australians. And the 457 visa class, of course, is the key to meeting that demand at this time.

The Prime Minister made the observation not so long ago—and I agree with it—that it was clear that the objective evidence is that wages are not being driven down. In fact, there was a two per cent increase in wages in the last quarter. Amanda Vanstone, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, released a report on the temporary skilled migration program recently, and I would suggest that the honourable member may care to read it because it found that 93 per cent of those on visas surveyed were in managerial, professional, associate professional, trade or skilled occupations. In other words, they were highly skilled in the positions in which they were working; they were having average salaries of $65,000 per annum; they had to be paid a minimum salary level, and that was $41,850 in metropolitan Australia. This is not an indication that wages are being driven down. The overwhelming majority of temporary workers feel that they are being treated the same as others.

I have observed the suggestion that because the 457 visa class is being used more frequently the percentage of visits is down, and in fact in percentage terms they may be, but in absolute numbers visits are well up, with DIMA having monitored over 6,471 sponsors in 2005-06, having side visits of 1,790 of out of 10,000 sponsors, and they are dedicating more resources, of course, to deal with more allegations that are being made from time to time. The minister has also responded with a $23.5 million package over four years to establish further strike teams to deal with these issues to ensure that employers of temporary workers are complying with the conditions of the visas, and measures to improve negotiation and management of labour agreements. This is an issue on which the government wants to have a program that has appropriate bona fide arrangements in place to ensure compliance, but it is a program that is in the national interest.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, could I table the quotation?

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The honourable member for Kennedy has sought leave to table the quotation.

Leave granted.