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

I thought I had better get myself up to date; I had better get the figures for the first quarter this year, just in case I was behind the eight ball and the wages had gone down. I was shocked to find that the average salary of skilled 457 workers in the first quarter of this year has gone from $66,000 to $70,000. What is happening here? Where is this wages race to the bottom? I saw that in the mining industry the average salary for 457 visa holders went from $87,000 to $100,000, in the finance sector it went from $92,000 to $103,000, in manufacturing it went from $66,000 to $69,000 and in the health sector, predominantly used, incidentally, by the New South Wales Department of Health—because Labor federally is out of touch with the states on this visa—it has gone from $62,000 to $67,000. That is good news for doctors and nurses and good news for regional hospitals, who can now get health staff. I have not had time to look at the average wages of unions, but I will have a look at that. (Time expired)