457 visas: Labor’s fry-in fry-out staff

BILL Shorten’s war on foreign workers has been undermined by revelations Labor used visas meant for skilled migrants to import fast food staff while in power.

Bill Shorten and the fry in, fry out workers.

• Crackdown on 457 visas to benefit Australian jobseekers
• Dutton cuts stay of 457 visa holders

THE former Labor government oversaw an explosion in foreign worker 457 visa sponsors including an unprecedented industry agreement to hire foreign hamburger flippers for KFC, McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s.

The flood of foreign visas during Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s time as workplace minister in the Gillard government also extended the program to 650 so-called professions including union officials and goat herders.

The revelations will come as an embarrassment for an Opposition leader who has sought to whip up a foreign worker backlash in the wake of the Trump victory in the US by claiming he wanted to crack down on 457s.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on election day. The origins of the sausage sandwich are unknown. Picture: Kym Smith

In one of the little-known labour agreements approved by Labor in 2012, McDonald’s was given sponsor rights to bring in 285 foreign workers. Hungry Jack’s hired at least 74 people on 457s, KFC brought in 88 foreign workers, while other lesser-known fast food outlets hired 32.

EXPLAINED: What is a 457 visa?

The Opposition leader’s claims that the high number of 457 visas during Labor’s time in office was due to the mining boom, have been undermined by figures showing that many of the McDonald’s jobs filled by foreign workers were in Sydney and even Canberra, which had one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country.

Figures from between 2010 and 2013 reveal that a third of the overall number of 457 visas across all categories granted were for jobs in Sydney rather than mining areas.

KFC, Maccas and Hungry Jack’s all benefited from the foreign workers.

Staff of the Gladesville McDonalds at work.

The argument for foreign workers employed in fast food was that there was a shortage of Australian workers who could ensure “customers receive prompt service” or respond to “customer inquiries”.

Mr Shorten will today introduce a private members bill to Parliament claiming Labor would toughen up rules on 457 visas.

He said that if the government was serious about protecting Australian jobs it would support his bill, despite the Coalition government having already cut the number of visas and passing tough new regulations for prioritising local jobs.

Warren’s view.

Samantha Maiden: Visa posturing gives no credit to Shorten

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said that Mr Shorten had allowed the visa program to spin out of control and questioned why Labor couldn’t prioritise Australian jobs at a time when he was putting foreign workers into fast food outlets.

Mr Shorten will today introduce a private members bill claiming Labor will toughen up rules on 457 visas. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton has savaged Labor for allowing the Visa program to spiral.

Between 2012 and 2013, 4600 cooks and bakers were granted 457 visas as well as 600 “creative designers”.

The Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List under Labor blew out to more than 650, with 110,000 foreign workers visas granted.

It included jobs such as goat and deer farming, grass growing, railway station manager, camping ground operator, electorate officers for MPs, potters and sculptors.