Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

Senators may find it hard to believe on this side but workplace relations adviser is the most commonly sponsored occupation by the union movement. One would think that there are clearly not enough qualified workplace relations advisers in Australia in the Senate and they cannot be sponsored by the trade unions.

Hold on: we have another occupation—that of copywriter. Who can forget the most famous 457 employer—over to you, Senator Cameron; you know where this one is going? John McTernan, Julia Gillard's communications director on a 457 visa. Despite the fact that there are thousands of journalists looking for jobs in Australia, the union movement goes overseas to get workplace relations advisers and communications directors. You have to be kidding me.