John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

The President has received a letter from Senator Ludwig proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion, namely:

The Minister for Immigration’s mismanagement of the 457 visa program, noting:

(a)

The recent dramatic rise in the numbers of guest workers under the program over the last 1-2 years;

(b)

The Minister’s statement that the increasing numbers of guest workers are required to keep wages low;

(c)

The Howard Government’s failure to provide Australians with the training needed to meet the current skills crisis;

(d)

The use of guest workers in unskilled jobs and in skilled occupations where there are qualified Australians available; and

(e)

The Minister’s failure to ensure the rights of guest workers are protected.

I call upon those senators who approve of the proposed discussion to rise in their places.

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

I understand that informal arrangements have been made to allocate specific times to each of the speakers in today’s debate. With the concurrence of the Senate, I shall ask the clerks to set the clock accordingly.