❓ Mr. Buswell questions the WA government's handling of Section 457 visa applications, particularly regarding the mining sector and the role of the Small Business Development Corporation. Mr. Carpenter defends the government's rigorous assessment process to prevent worker exploitation.
AnsweredQoN 415Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
“SECTION 457” VISA APPLICATIONS
On Tuesday the Minister for Small Business criticised the federal government for delays in processing section 457 visa applications; in particular, for the impact of its supposed inaction in the mining sector. (1) Why does the state government demand that all regional “section 457” visa certifications be centrally vetted by the Small Business Development Corporation? (2) Why in June this year did the Small Business Development Corporation refuse an application from Theiss Pty Ltd for 30 dump truck drivers in the mining industry despite acknowledging that there were no trained Australia-based workers available to enter the industry? (3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
On Tuesday the Minister for Small Business criticised the federal government for delays in processing section 457 visa applications; in particular, for the impact of its supposed inaction in the mining sector. (1) Why does the state government demand that all regional “section 457” visa certifications be centrally vetted by the Small Business Development Corporation? (2) Why in June this year did the Small Business Development Corporation refuse an application from Theiss Pty Ltd for 30 dump truck drivers in the mining industry despite acknowledging that there were no trained Australia-based workers available to enter the industry? (3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(1) Why does the state government demand that all regional “section 457” visa certifications be centrally vetted by the Small Business Development Corporation? (2) Why in June this year did the Small Business Development Corporation refuse an application from Theiss Pty Ltd for 30 dump truck drivers in the mining industry despite acknowledging that there were no trained Australia-based workers available to enter the industry? (3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(2) Why in June this year did the Small Business Development Corporation refuse an application from Theiss Pty Ltd for 30 dump truck drivers in the mining industry despite acknowledging that there were no trained Australia-based workers available to enter the industry? (3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(1) Why does the state government demand that all regional “section 457” visa certifications be centrally vetted by the Small Business Development Corporation? (2) Why in June this year did the Small Business Development Corporation refuse an application from Theiss Pty Ltd for 30 dump truck drivers in the mining industry despite acknowledging that there were no trained Australia-based workers available to enter the industry? (3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(2) Why in June this year did the Small Business Development Corporation refuse an application from Theiss Pty Ltd for 30 dump truck drivers in the mining industry despite acknowledging that there were no trained Australia-based workers available to enter the industry? (3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(3) Given the above, and the government’s treatment of the meat processing industry, is it not the case that the government is putting the interests of its union paymasters ahead of WA business? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
I thank the member for Vasse for some notice of this question. I will answer in reverse order. (3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(3) No. (2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(2) I do not have the detail to provide the member with information on the substance of the reasons for the decision. (1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
(1) Clearly, we have to make sure that the system works properly. Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr T. Buswell interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
The SPEAKER : Order, Deputy Leader of the Opposition! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : We do not want to have the situation in which overseas workers are brought into Western Australia - Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr T. Buswell : It is nothing to do with that. The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. I ask that the member listen to the answer before he interjects. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : - and are in any way, shape or form either exploited or used to replace available labour here. We have made that point before. Clearly, there has to be a rigorous assessment of these applications and that is what we do.
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