The SMH argues that both sides of politics should work together to tackle both 457 visa problems and worker exploitation, not through playing the Trump card.
Labor leader Bill Shorten played to heightened Trump-like fears of migration, saying "save the local blue collar worker from immigrants and trade" to revive his party's attacks on the 457 skilled worker temporary visa program.
The Coalition had also ridden the Trump wave on the visas and reduced from 90 days to 60 days the time unemployed migrants on the visa have to find a new job. The justification? To give Aussie workers a fair go.
Indeed, the most worrying part of the 457 visa scheme is not the negative effect on Australian workers but the problems it shares with a number of business practices that exploit the precarious position of migrant workers.
It's easy to see that the realpolitik of the issue means Aussies losing jobs to 457 visa-holders takes precedence over exploited migrants. That is unacceptable.
Both sides should work together to tackle both 457 visa problems and worker exploitation, not through playing the Trump card.
