Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this motion. The motion is politically motivated by those who are fundamentally opposed to the 457 skilled migration program. Just last week, the government released its response to the independent inquiry into the integrity of the 457 program, chaired by Mr John Azarius. This was a comprehensive inquiry that consulted extensively across Australia, meeting over 140 stakeholders face to face and considering in excess of 189 written submissions, including from businesses, unions, industry bodies and academics.

The government has announced that it will act on recommendations of the independent review to strengthen integrity, ensure that Australian workers have priority and support employers with genuine skills shortages. The independent panel found no evidence of widespread rorting. The 457 program, I note, was also the subject of both legislation and reference committee inquiries in 2013 under the former Labor government.