The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said that Australia has new rules and they only want highly skilled workers coming past their border.
He announced that the country is going to abolish a temporary working visa which Irish people have been using since the mid 1990s.
He said he wants higher skilled people and that the current working visa programme has become redundant.
Thousands of Irish people are living in Australia today because of the 457 visa, thankfully they won’t be affected, but no one else will get in under the current programme. If you want to travel to Australia for a working visa, you’re now advised to contact the embassy.
Thousands of Irish people thinking of going to Australia for work will now have to see how the new programme plays out and what Australia will offer in terms of what they value as a highly skilled worker.
The Australian Prime Minister made the announcement on Facebook:
He said: “Hear it here first – we’re putting jobs first and we’re putting Australians first by abolishing 457 visas.”
“We are an immigration nation, but the fact remains, Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs.”
“We’ll no longer allow 457 visas to be passports to jobs that could and should go to Australians.”
“It’s lost its credibility.”