The recently elected new conservative government in Australia will consider reversing changes made to the 457 visa programme introduced by the previous administration earlier this year, it is claimed.

According to trade union leaders the Abbott government has said it will remove some of the red tape which has made it more complex and costly for employers.

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The new government has said it will remove some of the red tape which has made obtaining 457 visas more complex and costly for employers​

The 457 visa is frequently used by employers in Australia seeking skilled professional workers from overseas and allows the holder to live and work in the country for up to four years.

The visa is especially popular with managers, professionals, technicians and trades people, especially in the resources industry, who want a new life in Australia along with their families. Almost half of those on the visa eventually end up settling in Australia permanently.

But the previous government claimed that it was being abused, despite evidence to the contrary, according to unions, and more red tape was attached to the application process including controversial labour market testing which means employers have to try to find someone suitably qualified in Australia first and fees have increased.

Scott Morrison, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, was against the changes when they were discussed prior to implementation. He has told unions that he will back a cut in red tape.

He has also said that there were some 'wild and unsubstantiated' claims when the subject was hotly debated, particularly about employers abusing the system, and these claims should be more thoroughly tested.

Now Steve Knott, chief executive of the Australian Mines and Metals Association, said that he has told resources executives that he believes that the new government has acknowledged that labour market testing aspect of the visa programme is unworkable and could lead to a 'blowout' in processing.

'AMMA will advocate for Labour's pre-election, last minute, politically driven, ill considered, unnecessary and cumbersome labour market testing to be removed by the new government to restore objectivity and confidence in the 457 visa programme,' said Knott.

He explained that the changes meant that employers had not only to provide details of their advertisements for workers but also to document their participation at job fairs and fees they had paid in the course of recruitment. This came on top of a visa application system that already involved up to 50 pages of paperwork.

The Minerals Council of Australia is also against the changes. It has described the new layers of complexity, red tape and cost as being an impediment for employers accessing the appropriate skills for their workforce.

The Migration Council Australia recently said that the 457 visa programme is critical in keeping Australia competitive. In a recent survey of 3,800 visa holders and 1,600 businesses, it found that 457 workers have a high level of job satisfaction, demonstrating that they are integrating well into the Australian workforce.

'Four out of five multi-national companies are using 457 visa holders to train and develop Australian workers. The survey results reinforced the message that skills transfer and knowledge from 457 visa holders play an important role in building Australia's human capital,' said Carla Wilshire, chief executive of the Migration Council Australia.

'Temporary migration does not just fill skills shortages, it addresses skills deficits and plays a central part in workplace development at the enterprise level,' she added.