Originally Posted by Wombat

diuretic, you need to learn your facts or stop lying.

The 457 Visa system was introducted by the Hawke/Keating Labor Government, not the Howard Government.

The skills crises was created by the Hawke/Keating Government who did all they could to make it far too expensive and difficult to employ an apprentice. They introduced the 12 month Traineeship system which most employers did not recognise when presented to them at job interviews. I even listened to one employer back then tell me that they only do Labor's traineeship program because it was affordable even though they would not accept it from an job applicant.

Labor destroyed the apprenticeship program and put effort into universities. Having so many school leavers holding a Bachelor of Anything while few people left with a trades qualification left Australia ruined. Small business stopped hiring Year 10 school leavers for unskilled labour such as working behind a counter at a newsagent, instead opting for the univerisity graduate.

Imagine attending university for three to four years, only able to work at the local newsagent or KFC or McDonalds with a university degree?

This is the work of the Hawke/Keating Labor Government.

Keating's skills training programs was given to the union movement and to get such skills training, one had to hold financial membership with a union. Those skills training programs that were actually given to the unemployed were not recognised by one single employer, including the unions.