Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

In relation to the question, I refer the senator to the answer that I gave to Senator Wong—and that is that there is a minimum salary level involved here, and people cannot go below that.

I should correct an answer that I gave. I believe I told the Senate earlier that the average figure for this salary was $60,000. I regret I made a mistake. I have reread my brief and $65,000 is the average salary for this visa.

The reason that people want to bring in skilled migrant workers from overseas is because of the shortages, and the reason it is done without labour market testing goes back to a report commissioned by Senator Bolkus, as the Labor minister for immigration, who, in consultation with the industry and the unions, agreed that labour market testing for key activities was unnecessary.