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ABC Tissues a New Spotlight

Wednesday, 21st June, 2006

Rorting of the system of granting temporary visas to skilled workers is another growing threat to the Government. Labor is striking a real chord with its almost daily examples of unskilled workers being imported under the guise that they are skilled.

The real danger is not the political one. It is that industries where there really is a shortage of skilled workers will suffer from the Immigration Department being forced to look at applications more thoroughly than they have been in the past.

Prime Minister Howard is clearly aware of both the political and economic dangers of Labor's campaign on this issue. He is supporting an active examination of whether Chinese workers on a site for ABC Tissues are really skilled while vigorously defending the need for skilled workers to be admitted on temporary visas.