Australian PM Targets Imported IT Workers

beaverdownunder writes "A debate 'down under' has started to rage surrounding the importation of 'temporary' IT workers on so-called 457 visas, with the Prime Minister promising to bring in tough new restrictions on foreign workers in a pre-election pledge, despite evidence that there are insufficient numbers of Australians to fill the skills gap. Some quarters argue the foreign workers are necessary to drive growth in Australia's IT industry, while others have cited examples where large Australian companies have imported workers needlessly, displacing qualified Aussie personnel."

Re:Mah nishtanah, ha-laylah ha-zeh, mi-kol ha-leyl

[helobugz]

It's different because the aussie leadership actually recognize it as a problem. In the US it's just business as usual.

Shortage is NOT the Problem

[XopherMV]

The problem is not a shortage of engineers. The problem is that software companies don't want to pay competitive salaries. Were salaries higher, that would attract capable workers into the software field such as engineers or physicists. It would also further increase the number and quality of students studying computer science.

There's a reason interest in software development work peaked in the late 1990s. That was also when salary increases peaked.

Re:Just a desperate PM

[bug1]

This is just a ploy by a desperate PM ...

Oh lovely, its blame Julia time again, do you have a spare pitchfork and ditch the witch badge ?

the public doesn't actually get the real facts...

Many in academic circles have stated that there is a clear media bias against the government. I guess its Julias fault people watch MSM too ?