Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs annual report for 2004-05. Honourable senators will recall that on 14 June this year I asked Senator Vanstone whether there was anything in the relevant regulations to prevent employers from forcing section 457 visa guest workers from working unreasonable hours in order to earn the required minimum salary of $41,850. I was concerned that, if the section 457 guest workers were paid the minimum wage, they would need to work more than 60 hours a week in order to earn the salary required under the regulations. In Senator Vanstone’s reply to my question she said:

We would be happy to make any investigation in relation to any claims that you bring forward.

Senator Vanstone also said, when asked a question on that same subject the following day by Senator George Campbell—