457 visasWell, how embarrassing has this failed 457 visa non-issue become for the Government and the unions?The hypocrisy of Julia Gillard’s dogwhistling on 457 visas has been breathtakingHer own right-hand man, Scotsman John McTernan, is on a 457 visaAnd now the union movement, which she was trying to please with her rhetoric, is in the same boatLast month TWU National Secretary, Tony Sheldon, was accusing employers who recruited workers on 457 visas of “human trafficking” and a “form of slavery”But now it turns out that, like Julia Gillard, 3 of his key staff are here on 457 visasThat’s right his chief of staff, his media officer and his senior organizer are all 457 visa workersThey replaced about 5 “Australian” TWU staff sacked by Mr Sheldon in December 2011This issue always was rubbish – a policy solution in search of a problemHow can the 457 visa system undermine Australian jobs when unemployment remains at an historic low of 5.4%?How can skilled workers be taking local jobs when there are local skills shortages?How can you credibly bang on about 457 visas while changing the rules to allow foreign students to stay and work for 4 years once they have finished their courses?This issue has always been about politics not policyBut the politics won’t secure Labor votes, it simply highlights the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister and the unions

The Alan Jones Breakfast show: Highlights