Master Builders Australia has come out swinging at the Federal Government’s renewed campaign against apparent abuses of 457 working visas.

MBA’s Chief, Wilhelm Harnisch, said that there is no evidence to suggest that 457 Visas are being systematically abused or undermining local employment.

“Genuine and proven cases of abuse of the skilled migration system are isolated and employers found guilty of misusing the system should rightly be punished. Demonising the 457 visa system and the use of foreign workers is not an appropriate policy response,” Mr Harnisch said.

“The ‘genuineness’ criterion, the removal of English-language exemptions and expanded regulatory powers for Immigration Department and Fair Work Ombudsman have only recently been introduced, albeit adding a significant compliance and red tape burden on the industry.”

Master Builders Australia’s concerns have been encapsulated in a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Framework and operation of subclass 457 visas, Enterprise Migration Agreements and Regional Migration Agreements.