I don't believe there is going to be a blanket ban on 457 visas, just an in depth inquiry, to ascertain, if the system is doing what it was designed/intended to do?
If some of the stories emerging have any substance, a few rouge employers, are using these visas for other than their intended purpose.
If true, they also potentially harm honest employers, doing the right thing!
Their intended purpose should allow these visas to continue to make up a GENUINE skills shortfall!
However, we simply cannot stand idly by while TAFE colleges and the like, are closed down by highly manipulative or incredibly asinine state politicians?
And consequently, former TAFE graduates/trainees, replaced by 457 workers, and islands of endemic high unemployment, with skilled trades people standing idly around; and, supported by the tax payer!?
Nor should they be used to support or entrench any form of discrimination, including disability, age or sex discrimination!
If the rules are to change, then every 457 visa ought to be accompanied by no less than two mandated apprentices, with payroll tax and other tax exclusions, the teaspoonful of honey?
If states won't comply/cooperate, then perhaps their share of GST revenue, could be plundered to repay the the payroll tax, and other state engineered, anti local employment outcomes.
The federal Govt also ought to consider completely bypassing politically mischievous/manipulative state admins; and apply a direct funding model, to all public education. [And perhaps health as well?]
[And bring on a very welcome political stoush, on the eve of an election!? States need to be brought to heel, or made to understand, they can't have their cake and eat it too!]
This and vastly increased local school/hospital board autonomy, would hand back around 30% savings?
Savings, which ideally, could be redirected to the coalface and or superior health education/skills training outcomes!?
Rhrosty.

I was just talking to a couple of young men whose work demands completing of a certificate course in instruction but their public employer has told them to do it in their own time and at their own expense.

The question arose in the context of trades apprenticeship training.

I might just leave it at that. Because there must be a parallel universe in Australia. One where there are no workers and no young Aussies willing to work. The other being the one I encountered, where government itself as an employer rolls logs in the path of any who try.

Any wonder these pear-shaped politicians who are paid more than their US and UK counterparts have no credibility and the public is looking to a Spring clean at Parliament House in September, and I daresay in elections thereafter.

Onthebeach, it seems to be the current Federal Govt having the enquiry, and various states rolling their logs in the path of graduates?
So just who ought to be replaced?
Those seeking to expose the truth, or those rolling their log jams in the path of exposure of the facts, all of them?
Rhrosty.

Since the author wishes to sing the praises of the 457 Medical "Professionals" (sic). Ask a Queenslander for comment!

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/16478723/report-recommends-qld-doctors-face-criminal-probe/

...Another omission in the 457 visa debate is the bamboo scaffolding on building sites…That will come no doubt with Abbotts “457 Work Choices”.

I have personal experience of how the 457 "visa" system can be abused, I was in a group of 20 Australians flown to Darwin to be "tested" it was a sham, we were used by the American company to claim that " they just couldn't get the skills they needed from Australians" they spent a certain amount of money getting us there but they wanted the numbers, to justify importing "compliant" (ignore safety regulations, never complain)employees. I was out of pocket by at least $500.00 they ignored my request for reimbursement.

Lockhartlofty:

...The 457 visa controversy is bubbling along under the surface nicely: kept there for the moment by the profound “lie” of Multiculturalism: Multiculturalism which is reinforced by the anti-Australian sentiment of anti-discrimination laws, which impost almost exclusively against white Australians.

...The parallel with the wide comb shearers dispute of the seventies, is stark enough. Successful outcomes were achieved by the National Party in its anti-union attack against the pay and conditions in the shearing industry by the use of compliant foreign workers from NZ. You have unfortunately been exposed to the reality of 457 visa abuse by “Abbotts” mates in big business! Australians are in for more of that under Abbott!

Link:
http://www.shearingworld.com/Information/widecombs2.htm