Amanda Vanstone (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The answer to the last question is: certainly not. It is clearly understood by, I think, all the academics involved in immigration that immigration adds value to Australia. It adds to the economy and it secures Australian jobs. It helps us to build a better and better Australia. Senator Lundy must have been absent when I pointed out that the reason that labour market testing has gone is that a former Labor senator, Senator Bolkus, called for a report on this issue, and the industry and unions worked together and said, ‘Get rid of labour market testing for key activities.’ It was kept for key activities and gotten rid of for the rest of the area. Then, for key activities, we looked at it and said, ‘Isn’t a better test a salary level and a skill level test rather than whether the employer can advertise in places and make sure that they cannot pass that test?’