Australia’s most militant union is running an anti-migrant campaign in a key Victorian marginal seat held by the Australian Labor Party.
Reported in today’s The Australian, the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union is running a campaign claiming an Abbott-led Coalition Government will see the labour market ‘flooded’ by foreign workers.
CFMEU leader, Mr Noonan, disingenuously stated: “ I believe the people of Corangamite, we hear, are very concern about the 457 issue.”
The campaign includes a billboard deriding temporary migrants.
This campaign follows the successful lobbying by the CFMEU to increase visa charges and pile more regulation on Australian businesses struggling to fill vacancies due to skills shortages.
As the current Convenor of Migration Alliance, I condemn the campaign and urge Labor incumbents and candidates to distance themselves from CFMEU’s xenophobic campaign.
Not since the 1998 campaign by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party has Australia witnessed such virulent anti-migrant campaign.
Labor candidates in seats like Corangamite should not be standing under the banners of tacit racism for electoral gain.
Most Australians realise the temporary skilled migrant program is targeted to skills shortages and restricted to applicants with strong and relevant qualifications. Even in a region hit by manufacturing job losses like Geelong, these xenophobic tactics are bound to fall flat. It will only excite grubby union officials.
Most 457 visaholders become long-term taxpaying permanent residents and citizens. It is offensive to common sense to vilify migrants who are committed to Australia’s future and its values.