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

As Master Builders Australia said in a recent Senate committee hearing, their members look to fill vacant positions with Australians first because the cost of compliance in going down the 457 labour market checklist is expensive. That is what companies will need to do if they bring a Chinese worker in. There is a requirement to meet market salary levels. There is no cheap labour; they have to meet market salary levels. The 457 workers have to demonstrate skills and qualifications to the Australian standard and meet English language requirements. The employer must be able to show that the position is genuine. The employer must fund the return travel costs and visa fees. Also, a requirement for the employer to make a financial contribution to training Australians continues to apply. The claims by the union in relation to cheap foreign labour, backed up by those opposite, are disproven by the facts.