Tag Archives: Bob Kinnaird

BOB BIRRELL and BOB KINNAIRD. Migration policy; All about numbers

Posted on 24 March 2017 by John Menadue

The permanent skilled migration program should be cut by nearly half, from 128,000 (primary and secondary applicants) to around 70,000. This includes migrants granted visas under the points test and those sponsored by employers.  

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BOB KINNAIRD. Indian IT professionals on rock bottom 457 wages undermine Turnbull’s ‘innovation’ dream

Posted on 8 December 2016 by John Menadue

The Coalition’s cheap labour 457 visa wage policy is destroying jobs for young Australians lured into studying IT courses under the Turnbull government’s high profile ‘Innovation’ push… Indian 457 visa IT workers are being approved at much lower rates than … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Industrial relations, Refugees, Immigration | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

BOB KINNAIRD. The Coalition’s Backpacker tax and work rights package

Posted on 28 September 2016 by John Menadue

  The Coalition’s backpacker policy announcement yesterday focussed on tax rates but also includes a significant expansion of work rights under Australia’s working holiday maker program (WHM or 417 and 462 visas). …. The Coalition’s main aim is to provide … Continue reading →

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BOB KINNAIRD on China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA)

Posted on 10 June 2016 by John Menadue

An opinion piece in yesterday’s Financial Review by James Laurenceson dismisses union concerns on ChAFTA – ‘Don’t believe Chinese worker Free Trade Agreement scaremongering’, 9/6/16. It warrants a response. Laurenceson’s claims do not stand up to scrutiny. They concern firstly … Continue reading →

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JOHN MENADUE.   Free Trade Agreements. The Abbott and Turnbull Governments were told but wouldn’t listen. They went further and attacked those who expressed concerns.

Posted on 10 June 2016 by John Menadue

The ink was hardly dry on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) before we learned about labour market exploitation under the agreement.

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BOB KINNAIRD. Like earlier Free Trade Agreements, the new FTA with Singapore continues to waive labour market testing which has been designed to protect Australian workers and students.

Posted on 21 May 2016 by John Menadue

Prime Minister Turnbull announced the Australia-Singapore ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ (CSP) on 6 May last, just a few days before he called the 2 July election. Cynics will suspect the timing and also see the Singapore announcement as something of a … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. Turnbull Government buries the FTA bad news

Posted on 28 January 2016 by John Menadue

The Turnbull government has proved just as determined as the Abbott government to hide from the Australian community the truth about what their FTA deals mean for the 457 visa and other temporary work visa programs. Under the Turnbull administration, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Refugees, Immigration | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Bob Kinnaird. Foreign worker exploitation.

Posted on 8 January 2016 by John Menadue

To reduce foreign worker exploitation, enforce employer sanctions laws 2015 produced a never-ending stream of stories of exploited foreign workers on all kinds of temporary visas. They include overseas students, working holiday and 457 ‘skilled’ visa-holders. Nearly all temporary visas … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. The high price of Labor’s capitulation on ChAFTA

Posted on 11 November 2015 by John Menadue

Labor’s capitulation in supporting the treaty-status ChAFTA has profound ramifications that go far beyond the China deal. Labor’s support for ChAFTA has all but guaranteed the permanent surrender of Australian sovereignty over key parts of our migration program and laws, … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. 750,000 temporary residents with work rights.

Posted on 9 October 2015 by John Menadue

The recent Fairfax/ABC Four Corners reports exposing widespread exploitation and wage abuse of overseas students and other visa workers in 7-11 stores, horticulture and other sectors have been justly applauded as outstanding examples of investigative journalism. Their impact has been … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA and a diplomatic appointment.

Posted on 23 September 2015 by John Menadue

As the government’s exaggerated claims of economic benefit and job creation from ChAFTA are increasingly exposed, the lead DFAT negotiator on the China FTA is set to be appointed the next Australian Ambassador to China. According to reports in the … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA and binding trade treaties are undemocratic.

Posted on 3 September 2015 by John Menadue

The China FTA and all international trade agreements are essentially undemocratic because they are ‘binding’ on all future Australian governments. They provide incumbent governments with the opportunity permanently to limit the options open to the Australian people and to tie … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA truth still elusive

Posted on 27 August 2015 by John Menadue

Two months after releasing the China FTA text the Coalition government has still not told the Australian people the truth about the labour mobility provisions in ChAFTA. The result is confusion even among usually well-informed commentators. Greg Sheridan Foreign Affairs … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. More government dishonesty on China FTA

Posted on 23 July 2015 by John Menadue

Now that Federal Labor Leader Bill Shorten has publicly stated his opposition to the China FTA labour mobility provisions, the Coalition is ramping up its attack on union and political critics of the deal. Trade Minister Robb lead the charge … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA ‘labour mobility’ fight looms

Posted on 3 July 2015 by John Menadue

Current Affairs The ALP National Conference at end-July will likely have before it an urgency motion demanding changes to the foreign worker provisions in the China FTA as a condition for supporting the agreement, according to The Australian (‘Change or … Continue reading →

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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA ‘labour mobility’ fails the national interest test

Posted on 24 June 2015 by John Menadue

Current Affairs. Prime Minister Abbott said nothing about the ‘labour mobility’ provisions in the China Australia FTA (ChAFTA) package when releasing the FTA text last week. There will be a strong community reaction once these provisions are understood. The Federal … Continue reading →

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