Gillard hires foreigners despite Australian jobs rhetoric

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Created on Tuesday, 05 March 2013 17:25

Written by Editorial staff

Julia Gillard has come under fire for the fact that some of her most senior staff members are foreigners here on 457 visas.

Her high-profile media director John McTernan is a British import here on a 457 visa, with questions being raised as to how he was able to pass the top secret security clearances, The Australian reports.

Such clearances are only available to Australian citizens, while her deputy-chief of staff Tom Bentley also has British roots.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey questioned the perplexing set of circumstances, given that the prime minister has spent the last few days saying that the 457 system should only be used in circumstances where no local employee can be found.

"Julia Gillard says people on 457 visas are taking the jobs of everyday Australians," Mr Hockey told journalists in western Sydney today.

"Aren't there people in her office on 457 visas? And how did they get security clearance to access some of the most sensitive documents of Australia? I'm just surprised that there's no-one else that is prepared to work in Julia Gillard's office other than someone who's on a 457 visa."

This back and forth originated as a result of government announcements that the 457 immigration visa system would be tightened to give Australian workers the best chance to find employment.

Many sectors have hit out against the changes, with Migration Alliance's Liana Allan saying that the prime minister is biased, given her British heritage and the fact that she is employing British people on her personal staff.

Ms Allan also noted that there is blatant hypocrisy in hiring a person on a 457 visa, when the prime minister has been spruiking Australian jobs for Australian workers. Of opposition leader Tony Abbott's comments that Ms Gillard is demonising foreigners, Ms Allan explained that foreigners often go on to become citizens and contribute to Australia.

The prime minister's argument of Australian workers being endangered has further been eroded, after she conceded that these reforms were made on anecdotal evidence.

Speaking on Sky News, the Labor leader explained that the reforms have been made as a result of "community feedback". She said people had complained to her about losing out on jobs, but failed to cite examples.

It has been noted recently that Ms Gillard's week-long stay in western Sydney during this debate is ironic, given that a great proportion of the region is made up of foreigners who are now calling Australia home.