Linda Kirk (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Vanstone, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Does the minister recall allegations aired on The 7.30 Report last month that recruitment firms are deducting an eight per cent commission from the wages of workers on 457 visas? Can the minister confirm that, when specifically asked about the allegation on the program, she stated:

... there is a list of what it is acceptable to deduct and what it’s not to deduct and anyone who’s doing the wrong thing will get caught and dealt with.

Can the minister confirm that the list of what cannot be deducted from wages under the regulations for 457 visas does not include agency commissions? Did the minister knowingly mislead the public or is she just ignorant of her own legislation?