Oz opposition leader Abbott to push for more overseas skilled workers

Sydney, Apr 27 (ANI): Australian Leader of Opposition party in Australia, Tony Abbott will use a speech in Melbourne on Friday to push for attracting more overseas skilled workers.

Emphasizing the need for "the best possible immigrants to Australia", Abbott said he would highlight this demand at an Institute of Public Affairs event in Melbourne.

He said that during his speech he would target the ruling Labor Party for undermining public faith in Australia's migrant intake.

Accusing the Julia Gillard Labour Government of buckling to union concerns and abandoning the Pacific Solution, which allows employers to use the government's 457 visa category to sponsor overseas workers to come to Australia for upto four years, Abbott said he will project this Coalition migration policy as one of the significant innovations of the erstwhile John Howard Government.

"These are the best possible immigrants to Australia. They make a contribution from day one. From day one, they are immersed in the Australian way of life. They also help Australian businesses to make the most of their economic opportunities to build a prosperity which every Australian participates in," Abbott claims.

According to The Age, Abbott outlined that provided such migrants were paid the same wages and Australians could not readily fill the jobs, businesses should be able to bring in the overseas workers. (ANI)