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Tag Archives: Bob Kinnaird
BOB BIRRELL and BOB KINNAIRD. Migration policy; All about numbers
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.
BOB KINNAIRD. Indian IT professionals on rock bottom 457 wages undermine Turnbull’s ‘innovation’ dream
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 457 visas, Bob Kinnaird, Indian IT workers
1 Comment
BOB KINNAIRD. The Coalition’s Backpacker tax and work rights package
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
Posted in Industrial relations, International Affairs, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
Tagged backpacker tax, Bob Kinnaird, cheap foreign labour, Fair Work Ombudsman, wage exploitation, working holiday makers
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BOB KINNAIRD on China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA)
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
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged 400 visa, Bob Kinnaird, China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, Chinese working holiday makers, James Laurenceson, labour market testing
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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.
The ink was hardly dry on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) before we learned about labour market exploitation under the agreement.
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.
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
Posted in Economy, Industrial relations, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Bob Kinnaird, internship program for Singaporean students, Singapore FTA, work and holiday visa program with Singapore
Comments Off on 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.
Bob Kinnaird. Turnbull Government buries the FTA bad news
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
Bob Kinnaird. Foreign worker exploitation.
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
Posted in Economy, Human Rights, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
Tagged 7-11 stores, Bob Kinnaird, foreign workers, Peter-Dutton, temporary visas
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Bob Kinnaird. The high price of Labor’s capitulation on ChAFTA
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
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged 457 visas, Bob Kinnaird, FTAs and ALP, Productivity Commission and FTAs, trade liberalisation and work rights, trading away work rights
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Bob Kinnaird. 750,000 temporary residents with work rights.
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
Posted in Economy, Education, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged 7-11 stores, Bob Kinnaird, labour market testing, temporary residence and the labour market, wage abuse, work rights for students
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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA and a diplomatic appointment.
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
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Australian Ambassador to China, Bob Kinnaird, China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, Jan Adams
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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA and binding trade treaties are undemocratic.
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
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Bob Kinnaird, China Free Trade Agreement, foreign treaties and democracy, Trans-Pacific Partnership. labour market testing
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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA truth still elusive
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
Bob Kinnaird. More government dishonesty on China FTA
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
Posted in Economy, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
Tagged 457 visas, Andrew Robb and China FTA, Bill Shorten and China FTA, Bob Kinnaird, China FTA
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Bob Kinnaird. China FTA ‘labour mobility’ fight looms
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
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged ALP national conference, Bob Kinnaird, China FTA, loss of jobs
1 Comment
Bob Kinnaird. China FTA ‘labour mobility’ fails the national interest test
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
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged 457 visas, Australia China FTA, Bob Kinnaird, labour mobility
1 Comment