Released on = November 22, 2006, 4:36 am

Press Release Author = Ryan Rebutica

Industry = Government

Press Release Summary = Federal Labor's attack on temporary skilled migrants could
threaten government health services in Queensland as well as key private sector
industries and hamper Australia's efforts to attract people with the skills
Australia needs, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone
said today.

Press Release Body = Federal Labor's attack on temporary skilled migrants could
threaten government health services in Queensland as well as key private sector
industries and hamper Australia's efforts to attract people with the skills
Australia needs, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone
said today.

The Minister delivered the warning as she prepared to speak at the Australian
Industry Group's National Executive meeting this morning in Brisbane.

Later in the morning, the Minister will meet with an instructor from Guide Dogs
Queensland, who came to Australia three years ago today as a temporary skilled
migrant, before shifting to a permanent skilled visa.

'The Queensland Government, as with all other state and territory governments around
the country, is a major user of temporary skilled migration, through the 457 visa,'
the Minister said.

'The Queensland Government clearly recognises the benefits of the programme and is
particularly using it to deliver health services to the community, including GPs,
nurses, anaesthetists, dentists and physiotherapists.

'In 2005-06, the Queensland Government directly employed 10 per cent of the almost
6900 temporary skilled migrants - primary applicants - granted a visa based on
employment in Queensland. Of the 680 primary applicants sponsored by the Government,
more than 600 were in the health area.

'And in the first quarter of this financial year, Queensland Government use of the
visa has increased significantly, accounting for 17 per cent per cent of the 2010
primary visa grants in the state.

'Across Queensland, industries from hospitality, mining and construction are also
major users of temporary skilled migrants to help fill skills shortages and maintain
the strong economic performance of the state.'

'Mr Beazley's constant denigration of skilled migration, however, risks sending a
message to potential skilled migrants that they're not welcome here.

'Yet Mr Beazley continues to attack the programme, claiming it's about a "wages race
to the bottom" implying that the visa is used in low wages industries.

'The reality is far from Beazley's bluster. The average salary of temporary skilled
migrants in 2005-06 was $66,000 nationally and it has risen further in the first
quarter of this financial year.

'It is clear to me that Mr Beazley's attacks are nothing more than an attempt to
distract voters, in the lead up to an election, from the former government's
disastrous management of the economy and training - a key contributor to the current
skills shortage.

'There's a reason Mr Beazley is languishing as leader of the Labor Party. It's
because he sounds hollow. The community doesn't believe what he says.

'Mr Beazley claims he will focus on training to fill skill shortages and accuses the
Coalition of underspending on training. This is blatant nonsense. Nearly five times
as many people are completing traineeships and apprenticeships under the Coalition
compared to Labor.

'When Mr Beazley was minister responsible for training in the early 1990s, training
declined.

'I call on Premier Beattie to take up this challenge; sit down with Mr Beazley and
tell him directly how important skilled migration is to Queensland and explain the
risks that Mr Beazley's negative campaign could have in attracting the skilled
migrants Australia needs.'

Web Site = http://www.nationalvisas.com.au

Contact Details = National Visas
Web site: http://www.nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3 - 118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61 (0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544