Federal Member for Shortland, Pat Conroy and Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann hosted a roundtable discussion with worker representatives yesterday, to talk about putting local workers first.
Many raised concerns with the way businesses advertise for jobs before looking for workers overseas and gave evidence for HUNTER workers missing out because of the 457 visa program.
MP Pat Conroy says his party have made commitments to ensure locals get the work.
"Our election commitment around 457 visas was quite extensive," he said.
"First off, ensuring there was true market-labour testing so that employers had to advertise locally at realistic wages to see whether an Australian could fill the job and they'd advertise for four weeks,and then there was a requirement that if there was a 457 visa worker brought in, that they be paid the market rate of pay."
He also claims Labor has introduced tougher requirements on employers in terms of training which would lead to better outcomes for workers across the Hunter and Australia.
"That's really important. I don't think people are just using temporary skilled migrants when there's a genuine skills shortage, but people have to be satisfied that Australians get first go at the jobs.
According to Pat Conroy, this skill shortage needs to be addressed but says funding cuts on a Federal level aren't helping.
"We've seen a very significant reduction in training assistance from the Federal Government leading to fewer apprentices and we need to train these people to give young people a future," he said.
"We need Australians to fill those jobs so employers need to spend more money on training and the Federal Government should be helping in that."
 |
| Pat Conroy MP |
