Aidan, I empathise and understand, my brother has his own engineering business and is a 'preferred supplier' to some of the big miners.
He has been ramping back up to about 130 staff, where he was before the last downturn.
The mines called a meeting of suppliers and unlike 30 or 40 years ago, this time they are openly saying that they will have to 'sharpen their pencils', this time around.
So they are not throwing money at anyone anymore, this is indicative of our times.
As I have said before, this has to happen because the companies have been held at 'gun point' for too long and we have priced ourselves 'out of the market'.
I hope the low dollar will help, in the short term at least.
Our ratio of 'good workers', has always been low.
I found it was not so much ability but attitude, basically Aussies are not into working.
I found they are immature and lacking in responsible behaviour.
This is confirmed by their behaviour when they get 'pissed'.
All in all we cannot expect 'worlds best attitudes' from the Aussie worker, and so it is that the 457's came to being.
I have watched in awe at a group of mainland Chinese workers, (I think they were welders) and boy I could not get over how focused, and quick they were, and the welds were impeccable.
So with the influx of immigrants, I would be worried if I was an Aussie worker.

If negative gearing were used what it was designed for then yes, it would help but unfortunately, the highly opportunistic mentality here has hijacked negative gearing. It has become nothing than a massive misuse for greed mongers & the working class has to foot the bill for the rorters.
It's an economic nightmare & needs to be seriously controlled.