One Nation Pauline Hanson takes credit for scrap 457 visa
One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson has taken credit for Malcolm Turnbull's decision to scrap the 457 visa.
Moments after the Prime Minister announced the government would ditch 457 visas for skilled migrants, Ms Hanson took to Twitter to take credit for the decision.
'The government will deny their tough talk on immigration and plan to ban 457 visas is because of One Nation but we all know the truth!' the senator tweeted on Tuesday.
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One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson (pictured) has taken credit for Malcolm Turnbull's decision to scrap the 457 visa
Ms Hanson's supporters congratulated and thanked her for pushing the government toward the decision.
'Congrats, keep the pressure on them,' one man said.
Others were not so positive in reply to the Queensland senator's tweet.
'Dream on, you nitwit!' one man said.
Malcolm Turnbull announced on Tuesday he would abolish the 457 visa program for skilled migrants
Malcolm Turnbull said on Tuesday that Australia was a successful multicultural 'immigration nation' but it was time to put Australians first.
'The fact remains Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs,' he said in a video posted to Facebook on Tuesday.
'We will no longer allow 457 visas to be passports to jobs that could and should go to Australians.'
Mr Turnbull said it remained critical to give businesses access to skilled staff.
Shock announcement: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the government will scrap 457 visas for foreign workers
'The 457 visa will be replaced by a new temporary visa specifically designed to recruit the best and the brightest in the national interest,' he said.
'The new visa will better target genuine skills shortages, including in regional Australia.'
The new visa program will include requirements around work experience, English language proficiency and labour market testing.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten slammed the plan via Twitter.
'Make no mistake, the only job Malcolm Turnbull cares about saving is his own,' he wrote.
'Make no mistake, the only job Malcolm Turnbull cares about saving is his own,' Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said
Mr Turnbull later told reporters in Canberra that Mr Shorten, as employment minister in a Labor government, was the gold medal winner of issuing 457 visas.
'The fact is that Bill Shorten likes to talk about Australian jobs, but whenever he's had the opportunity in government to protect them, he's failed them.'
Under the government's plan the list of occupations that qualify for a temporary visa will be reduced from its current number of more than 200.
The visas will be limited to a two-year period that require previous work experience.
WHO COMES TO AUSTRALIA ON 457 VISAS? A 457 visa allows foreign workers in 'skilled' occupations to live and work in Australia for up to four years. As of March 2016, more than 177,000 workers and members of their family held 457 visas. A Parliamentary Library report said the most 457 workers come from India, the United Kingdom, China and Ireland. The biggest industries employing 457 visa holders were accommodation, food services, and IT. Source: Parliamentary Library
'Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs,' Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in a video released on Tuesday
A second four-year visa will require a higher standard of English language skills as well as a proper criminal check.
The new system would be 'manifestly, rigorously, resolutely' conducted in the national interest to put Australian jobs first, Mr Turnbull said.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the new two-year visa would not allow permanent residency.
Anyone now in Australia on a 457 visa will not be affected by the new arrangements.
'They will continue under the conditions of that visa,' Mr Dutton said.