Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I am quite shocked that the minister does not have a brief. I can advise her that those details were provided to the House by Mr Ruddock a couple of days ago, so I am absolutely amazed that she does not understand the issue. Does the minister really believe, as she claimed yesterday, that the revelations of shocking abuse of 457 visa holders are a sign that the system is working? Aren’t these cases actually confirmation that the scheme is being fundamentally exploited by some and that the department’s oversight is manifestly inadequate? Given that new reports about exploitation keep emerging, can the minister provide an assurance that she has complete confidence in her department’s administration of the 457 visa scheme?