Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

I graciously accept that leave. Labor opposes this motion and will call it out for what it is: a thinly disguised stunt designed to result in a cheap line rather than address the matter of policy substance. Australia must have a skilled migration program that gets the balance right. Labor wants industry and business to have access to skilled workers when they need them through an acceptable and highly responsive program to support economic growth that benefits all Australians. However, we must also ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place so that the 457 visa program is not abused as an industrial tool. We note that the best way to improve the productivity of Australian businesses is to improve the skills of Australian workers and to employ them. I look forward to Senator O'Sullivan bringing forward a motion that condemns the fact that since the election of Prime Minister Abbott in September 2013, Australia has lost almost 100,000 apprentices and cut $1 billion from apprenticeship programs.