The federal opposition claims the government's migration reforms will make the housing crisis worse amid a shortage in skilled tradespeople. His comments have raised fears the major political parties are using migrants as scapegoats, even as business groups and unions largely welcome the changes.
Last year 137,090 temporary visas were granted, adding to the numbers of the estimated more-than 1.6 million temporary migrants already living in Australia. Because of the rules restricting their employment, they can be subject to exploitation by unscrupulous employers - but lack protection if they try to report what's happened to them. Now, a group of migrant support organisations have put together a blueprint to add some legal protection for migrants on temporary visas.