Malcolm Turnbull Facebook slammed for scrapping 457 visas
Malcolm Turnbull has been slammed on social media for scrapping 457 visas for skilled foreign workers with critics accusing him of racism and ignorance.
More than 2,300 comments flooded the Prime Minister's Facebook page on Tuesday, with many of them negative.
The Liberal leader was panned for abolishing a policy introduced by John Howard's government in 1996, which allowed overseas workers to stay in Australia for up to four years.
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More than 2,300 comments flooded the PM's Facebook page after his 457 visa announcement
Former 7News reporter Eammon Atkinson accused Malcolm Turnbull of milking xenophobia
This woman accused the prime minister of seeking to bring back the White Australia policy
Eammon Atkinson, a former 7News reporter in Brisbane now based in London, said the Australian Government was bowing to xenophobic tendencies.
'You're an absolute idiot pandering to racist Australia,' he said. 'What an embarrassment.'
Kit Mhairi went further and accused the prime minister of trying to bring back the White Australia policy, which operated from 1901 to 1973.
'Ugh, just call a spade a spade, you racist. New 457 for people with 'better English'? Just be honest and say this is the White Australia Policy 2.0,' she said.
Malcolm Turnbull flanked by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton as they made the 457 visa announcement
Mr Turnbull has announced 457 visas will be replaced with two stricter programs to bring skilled workers in Australia.
The list of more than 650 occupations would be cut by 200 and the length of stay slashed from four years to two, and will require two years work experience.
'Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs,' Mr Turnbull said in a Facebook video.
This voter asked if One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was behind the 457 visa change
This man said scrapping the 457 visa program would put the Australian economy at risk
This man said 457 visas enabled employers in regional areas to find workers locals didn't want to do
One man asked if One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's support in the Senate was behind the scrapping of 457 visas after 21 years in operation.
'Did Pauline threaten not to support your budget if you didn't do this?',' Scott Fraser asked.
Another critic said scrapping the 457 visa program was a risky for the economy.
'You don't put Australians first by crippling the economy that 457 visa holders help to create,' Adam Barnes said.
Another man said the 457 visa meant regional employers could have labour to do jobs local workers didn't want to do, and described the scrapping as 'moronic and ignorant'.
'457 visa holders contribute billions into the Australian economy and spend the majority of their earnings in Australia,' Nathan Berriman said.
This woman said scrapping the 457 visa program would hurt the Australian tourism industry
This woman slammed the nation that foreign workers were taking away Australian jobs
An older man suggested bringing back national service, which was scrapped in 1972, would lift the skills of Australian youth
One woman said scrapping the 457 visa program would hurt the Australian tourism industry.
'I hope people overseas turn their nose when it comes to supporting this country in any kind of way,' Donna Jo said.
'No one should be interested in supporting Aussie tourism.
'What you are doing is making this already extremely racist country even worse.'
Another woman slammed the notion that foreign workers were taking Australian jobs.
'This mentality that migrants on 457 are 'stealing jobs from Australians' is absolute garbage,' Elane Angelides said.
An older man suggested reintroducing national service military training, which was abolished by Gough Whitlam's newly-elected Labor government in December 1972.
'If you want to lift the skills base in Australia, reinstate national service. Stop being so weak and give our youth a future,' Steve Bennetts said.