It is said that the Peter Dutton au pair visa furore is really an attack on the au pair system, which has so far escaped costly regulation by bureaucrats and political meddlers. It is also observed that it is never parents who use their services who call for regulation of an pairs, but other self-interested, non-competitive groups demanding protection and taxpayer money. They don't want competition against their over-priced, over-regulated industry, which is posing as free enterprise, when it would go broke without public money - and which is becoming even more unaffordable for parents by the week.

And of course, the moaners and groaners on au pair visas are the very same ones who cheer on people trying to come here without visas, without jobs, posing as 'refugees’

Toni, you don’t even make sense half the time.
I know I’m old and a bit slow but the relevance of that video is beyond me.
I simply cannot see how au pairs from overseas are doing anyone out of a job, because without them the children involved would simply be placed in the overcrowded child care system, where workers don’t get paid based on the number of kids in their care.
Most of the objections to them seem to come from those envious of couples who can afford to employ them, and envy is such an ugly emotion.
Personally I think children are far better off being cared for in their own homes, with continuity from the one carer, and their parents are happier because many of them, like doctors and nurses and small business owners, work shift work. Which makes child care very problematic.

Raised in the own homes, preferably by their own mother. Failing that, someone living with the family who knows the family's values and what they expect from their children (au pairs). Child minding/raising by strangers is responsible for many of the problems kids experience these days. They are bunged into kibbutzes from almost 0 to 5 years of age (a vital period needing the presence of a mother), when they go off to school to be brainwashed with propaganda they have no need to be bothered with until they are much older. They become so used to the thoughts and ideas of strangers that their own parents become the strangers. No wonder society is as crappy as it is these days.

As for taking jobs. Some say that it is Australian politicians that have taken Australian jobs by exporting them to low wage countries. Then there are the jobs that Australians refuse to do (au pairing e.g.) Also think about the fact that, despite the stupid 200,000 annual immigration figure, permanent unemployment still overs around 750,000.

Child care is a huge issue for many families.
There's a wait list of 18 months at some local
child-care centres and once they get a place the
costs may swallow up most of someone's salary.

Parents across Australia are faced with the dilemma
and since successive governments have failed to
address the under supply and ever spiralling cost of
child-care - it has become one of today's hottest
political issues.

An au-pair is the cheapest form of child-care. In
Australia most au-pairs are European youngsters on
working holiday visas often on a gap year. They are
worth investigating - not all of them require live-in
accomodation. They are an alternative to Child-Care
Centres.

real pity that kids have to be sent off to soviet style camps. Much better to be with caring mums and dads. Oh well, kids come last as usual.

runner,

Any opinion on the topic of this discussion?