Meatpacker 457???
Jul 8th 2006 | 12:32 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Anything,Anytime,Anywhere
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,141
From: The Magic Roundabout
Meatpacker 457???
Is this a new employer 457 "rort" or IR ploy?
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Visa rort claims as meatworkers sacked
08jul06
EIGHTY meatworkers were sacked yesterday when their South Australian abattoir was bought by T&R Pastoral, sparking union fears the company will restart the plant with foreign labour using the controversial 457 guest worker visas.
In the deal with the Conroy family meat company, T&R Pastoral will buy the land, plant and equipment at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide. But the jobs will go.
T&R Pastoral director Darren Thomas denied the company could have kept the workers on.
"We purchased what was put up to us by Conroy's, which was the land, building and assets," Mr Thomas said. "It is a well-maintained and located facility, and we saw it as a good strategic fit with our operations."
T&R Pastoral's main meatworks is at Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide, and employs 700 local and about 130 guest workers on the 457 visa.
The Immigration Department is investigating the meatworks after the ACTU claimed it was rorting the 457 visa system, under which guest workers must fill a recognised skill shortage.
A spokesman said the department was in the "final stages" of the investigation and would present the findings to Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone.
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union federal secretary Graham Bird said T&R Pastoral had "lied to the Immigration Department about bringing skilled employees to Australia". "They are using foreign labour in unskilled jobs any Australian worker could perform," he said.
AMIEU state secretary Graham Smith said the sackings, on the last day before four weeks of annual leave, were part of T&R Pastoral's workforce strategy.
"The real question is, where are they going to get the staff?"
He said sacking the workforce gave T&R Pastoral options. "They might want to use the new IR laws to reduce pay and conditions, they might want to close the meatworks and reduce the competition for their Murray Bridge meatworks, and they might want to bring in labour from overseas on 457 visas."
The Conroy family has owned the Port Pirie abattoir for almost 20 years, and it has been a major employer for almost 50 years.
State Employment Minister Paul Caica said the sacked workers would receive career counselling, training and introductions to possible future employers.
Source: Sunday Mail 090706
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It is going to be interesting what the final "investigation" results by DIMIA are going to say or will they just back up Little Johnny's IR "reforms". My money is on they will find nothing wrong.
------------------------------------------
Visa rort claims as meatworkers sacked
08jul06
EIGHTY meatworkers were sacked yesterday when their South Australian abattoir was bought by T&R Pastoral, sparking union fears the company will restart the plant with foreign labour using the controversial 457 guest worker visas.
In the deal with the Conroy family meat company, T&R Pastoral will buy the land, plant and equipment at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide. But the jobs will go.
T&R Pastoral director Darren Thomas denied the company could have kept the workers on.
"We purchased what was put up to us by Conroy's, which was the land, building and assets," Mr Thomas said. "It is a well-maintained and located facility, and we saw it as a good strategic fit with our operations."
T&R Pastoral's main meatworks is at Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide, and employs 700 local and about 130 guest workers on the 457 visa.
The Immigration Department is investigating the meatworks after the ACTU claimed it was rorting the 457 visa system, under which guest workers must fill a recognised skill shortage.
A spokesman said the department was in the "final stages" of the investigation and would present the findings to Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone.
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union federal secretary Graham Bird said T&R Pastoral had "lied to the Immigration Department about bringing skilled employees to Australia". "They are using foreign labour in unskilled jobs any Australian worker could perform," he said.
AMIEU state secretary Graham Smith said the sackings, on the last day before four weeks of annual leave, were part of T&R Pastoral's workforce strategy.
"The real question is, where are they going to get the staff?"
He said sacking the workforce gave T&R Pastoral options. "They might want to use the new IR laws to reduce pay and conditions, they might want to close the meatworks and reduce the competition for their Murray Bridge meatworks, and they might want to bring in labour from overseas on 457 visas."
The Conroy family has owned the Port Pirie abattoir for almost 20 years, and it has been a major employer for almost 50 years.
State Employment Minister Paul Caica said the sacked workers would receive career counselling, training and introductions to possible future employers.
Source: Sunday Mail 090706
-----------------------------------------
It is going to be interesting what the final "investigation" results by DIMIA are going to say or will they just back up Little Johnny's IR "reforms". My money is on they will find nothing wrong.
Jul 8th 2006 | 5:28 pm
#2
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: Meatpacker 457???
Originally Posted by The Bloke
Is this a new employer 457 "rort" or IR ploy?
------------------------------------------
Visa rort claims as meatworkers sacked
08jul06
EIGHTY meatworkers were sacked yesterday when their South Australian abattoir was bought by T&R Pastoral, sparking union fears the company will restart the plant with foreign labour using the controversial 457 guest worker visas.
In the deal with the Conroy family meat company, T&R Pastoral will buy the land, plant and equipment at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide. But the jobs will go.
T&R Pastoral director Darren Thomas denied the company could have kept the workers on.
"We purchased what was put up to us by Conroy's, which was the land, building and assets," Mr Thomas said. "It is a well-maintained and located facility, and we saw it as a good strategic fit with our operations."
T&R Pastoral's main meatworks is at Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide, and employs 700 local and about 130 guest workers on the 457 visa.
The Immigration Department is investigating the meatworks after the ACTU claimed it was rorting the 457 visa system, under which guest workers must fill a recognised skill shortage.
A spokesman said the department was in the "final stages" of the investigation and would present the findings to Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone.
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union federal secretary Graham Bird said T&R Pastoral had "lied to the Immigration Department about bringing skilled employees to Australia". "They are using foreign labour in unskilled jobs any Australian worker could perform," he said.
AMIEU state secretary Graham Smith said the sackings, on the last day before four weeks of annual leave, were part of T&R Pastoral's workforce strategy.
"The real question is, where are they going to get the staff?"
He said sacking the workforce gave T&R Pastoral options. "They might want to use the new IR laws to reduce pay and conditions, they might want to close the meatworks and reduce the competition for their Murray Bridge meatworks, and they might want to bring in labour from overseas on 457 visas."
The Conroy family has owned the Port Pirie abattoir for almost 20 years, and it has been a major employer for almost 50 years.
State Employment Minister Paul Caica said the sacked workers would receive career counselling, training and introductions to possible future employers.
Source: Sunday Mail 090706
-----------------------------------------
It is going to be interesting what the final "investigation" results by DIMIA are going to say or will they just back up Little Johnny's IR "reforms". My money is on they will find nothing wrong.
------------------------------------------
Visa rort claims as meatworkers sacked
08jul06
EIGHTY meatworkers were sacked yesterday when their South Australian abattoir was bought by T&R Pastoral, sparking union fears the company will restart the plant with foreign labour using the controversial 457 guest worker visas.
In the deal with the Conroy family meat company, T&R Pastoral will buy the land, plant and equipment at Port Pirie, north of Adelaide. But the jobs will go.
T&R Pastoral director Darren Thomas denied the company could have kept the workers on.
"We purchased what was put up to us by Conroy's, which was the land, building and assets," Mr Thomas said. "It is a well-maintained and located facility, and we saw it as a good strategic fit with our operations."
T&R Pastoral's main meatworks is at Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide, and employs 700 local and about 130 guest workers on the 457 visa.
The Immigration Department is investigating the meatworks after the ACTU claimed it was rorting the 457 visa system, under which guest workers must fill a recognised skill shortage.
A spokesman said the department was in the "final stages" of the investigation and would present the findings to Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone.
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union federal secretary Graham Bird said T&R Pastoral had "lied to the Immigration Department about bringing skilled employees to Australia". "They are using foreign labour in unskilled jobs any Australian worker could perform," he said.
AMIEU state secretary Graham Smith said the sackings, on the last day before four weeks of annual leave, were part of T&R Pastoral's workforce strategy.
"The real question is, where are they going to get the staff?"
He said sacking the workforce gave T&R Pastoral options. "They might want to use the new IR laws to reduce pay and conditions, they might want to close the meatworks and reduce the competition for their Murray Bridge meatworks, and they might want to bring in labour from overseas on 457 visas."
The Conroy family has owned the Port Pirie abattoir for almost 20 years, and it has been a major employer for almost 50 years.
State Employment Minister Paul Caica said the sacked workers would receive career counselling, training and introductions to possible future employers.
Source: Sunday Mail 090706
-----------------------------------------
It is going to be interesting what the final "investigation" results by DIMIA are going to say or will they just back up Little Johnny's IR "reforms". My money is on they will find nothing wrong.
Come on Howard, you can do better than this!
Jul 8th 2006 | 5:36 pm
#3
Thread Starter
Anything,Anytime,Anywhere
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,141
From: The Magic Roundabout
Re: Meatpacker 457???
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
Another IR train wreck, courtesy of the Liberal government.
Come on Howard, you can do better than this!
Come on Howard, you can do better than this!
Isn't he dumping it all on Costello soon?
Am I correct in assuming that 457 visas are for people who have specific skills? If so, the only skilled positions that I can think of at a meatworks are the butchers and boners.
Jul 8th 2006 | 9:26 pm
#4
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: Meatpacker 457???
Originally Posted by The Bloke
Isn't he dumping it all on Costello soon?
On a related note, why is it that all Prime Ministers tend to pass on the baton to their Treasurers?
I always thought that's what the Deputy PM was for! And, strangely, all Treasurers seem to be working in the background from day one to take over the PM's job - and very often, they do!
Whit's all that aboot, then?
Am I correct in assuming that 457 visas are for people who have specific skills? If so, the only skilled positions that I can think of at a meatworks are the butchers and boners.
It covers:
- Managers and administrators
- Professionals
- Associate professionals
- Tradespersons and related workers
Jul 8th 2006 | 10:12 pm
#5
Thread Starter
Anything,Anytime,Anywhere
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,141
From: The Magic Roundabout
Re: Meatpacker 457???
Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede
LOL, yes - but Costello's no pansy! He'll be up for it, and no mistake.
On a related note, why is it that all Prime Ministers tend to pass on the baton to their Treasurers? I always thought that's what the Deputy PM was for!
And, strangely, all Treasurers seem to be working in the background from day one to take over the PM's job - and very often, they do!
Whit's all that aboot, then?
Yep, that's right. The 457 is a temporary work visa for employers wishing to sponsor skilled applicants.
It covers:
On a related note, why is it that all Prime Ministers tend to pass on the baton to their Treasurers?
I always thought that's what the Deputy PM was for! And, strangely, all Treasurers seem to be working in the background from day one to take over the PM's job - and very often, they do!
Whit's all that aboot, then?
Yep, that's right. The 457 is a temporary work visa for employers wishing to sponsor skilled applicants.
It covers:
- Managers and administrators
- Professionals
- Associate professionals
- Tradespersons and related workers
That is stepping right over the Deputy PM. In Australia, as you may know, the Libs have always been the senior party in the coalition and the Deputy usually came from the Nationals(formerly Country) Party and the Treasurer from the Libs.
Jul 8th 2006 | 11:36 pm
#6
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 11,948
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Re: Meatpacker 457???
Originally Posted by The Bloke
From what I can follow, under the Westminster system, the Treasurer is a stepping stone to the Prime Ministership.
That is stepping right over the Deputy PM.
That is stepping right over the Deputy PM.
In Australia, as you may know, the Libs have always been the senior party in the coalition and the Deputy usually came from the Nationals(formerly Country) Party and the Treasurer from the Libs.
