Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and, as this is my first opportunity, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointment as Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Will the minister update the House on the importance of the 457 visa program in ensuring the provision of skilled workers to Australian businesses? Why is the integrity of this program so important? And how will it be maintained?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bass for his question. It is true that the union bosses are involving themselves in a racist attack at the moment in relation to the free trade agreement between our country and China, but of course there is precedent for this. The unions have involved themselves in these xenophobic campaigns, these scare campaigns, trying to scare the Australian public into believing something that is not true in relation to visa programs. Take the 457 visa program, for example. We all know that this country has been built over many, many generations by skilled migrants who have come to this country—

Mr Champion interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield will leave under 94(a). He has been warned twice.

The member for Wakefield then left the chamber.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and who have worked hard to make this country what it is today. The 457 visa program is one of those programs that, in a modern sense, allows people to come and work in our country where Australian workers cannot be found for a particular job. But of course there is an important integrity aspect to this program to make sure that employers do the right thing. I want to compliment the Assistant Minister for Immigration, the Hon. Michaelia Cash, for the work she has done in this area.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bendigo will cease interjecting. She is now warned.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Following the review, as part of the budget we announced some $3.7 million worth of funding to implement recommendations that came from the review to strengthen that program.

Mr Hawke interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Mitchell will cease interjecting.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

But imagine my surprise when I learnt that some of the key users, the key employer groups who were using this 457 program, were the same people who were out there publicly trashing it—that is, the union bosses. The union bosses are out there at the moment telling the Australian public that they should not support a free trade agreement between China and Australia, even though it will result in tens of thousands of Australians gaining employment and will add billions of dollars to the national economy. They are running this racist line out there, they are trashing the free trade agreement and they are trashing the 457 program. But, as it turns out, trade unions have sponsored 41 holders of 457 visas over the past five years, with several unions still acting as a sponsor today. It shows the hypocrisy that we see sitting opposite, bearing in mind that almost everybody sitting opposite us was a former union boss.

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right will cease interjecting.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The transport union's Tony Sheldon calls the 457 program 'a form of slavery', and yet his brothers and sisters in the United Voice, currently represented in this place by the member for Port Adelaide and the member for Corangamite, have no less than nine—

Opposition members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left!

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, the member for Corangamite would never support those crooks over there—my apology. (Time expired)

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When members are ready to resume question time.

Ms Henderson interjecting—

The member for Corangamite will cease interjecting.

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, will you ask the minister to withdraw the slur that he made at the end of his appalling answer?

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am not sure what the member is referring to. It was pretty difficult to hear the minister. I did not hear what the minister was saying because people were ignoring my attempts to get them to cease interjecting.