Online ads seeking to exclusively employ migrants holding or capable of obtaining an sc457 visa or other temporary work visas are making their rounds on various job sites, according to a Fairfax media report.

There are reports that the Victorian anti-discrimination watchdog has rejected calls to conduct an inquiry into whether such ads were in breach of equal opportunity law, indicating that it’s a matter for the courts.

However Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz has warned that employers advertising for foreign workers exclusively over Australian candidates must be referred to authorities.

"Skilled foreign workers provide an important supplement to the Australian workforce where there is a shortage of workers, however Australian workers always have first preference," he said in a media report.

Some of the ads posted state as follows, "I am looking for someone who is interested in getting a 457 visa in hospitality”; “ ... I can sponsor two cooks and one manager [for] the restaurant,"; and "highly prefer" candidates seeking work visas.”

Assistant Immigration Minister Michaelia Cash told Fairfax that companies sponsoring 457 visa-holders were subject to strict sponsorship obligations, which included a commitment to non-discriminatory employment and having to demonstrate that suitable Australian candidates were not available.

"Australian workers cannot be undercut by workers on 457 visas – market rates and conditions that would be paid to an Australian in the same job in the same workplace must also be provided to the foreign worker."