Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, as you are aware, I do not think this question is necessarily in this portfolio area but if I can assist, I will, and if I need to take anything on notice, I will. I can confirm that there has been a decrease in the number of primary sub-class 457 visa holders in the manufacturing sector in Australia. The number of sub-class 457 visa holders working in the manufacturing sector as at 30 June 2014 was 6,891. This is a decrease of 152 persons compared with 30 June 2013, when there were 7,043 subclass 457 visa holders working in the manufacturing sector in Australia. Under the former Labor government, the subclass 457 program grew from around 68,400 primary visa holders at the end of June 2010 to more than 110,000 when they left office. (Time expired)