Andrew Hastie says big business wants temporary migrants because they are ‘vulnerable’

Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie has accused “big business” of agitating against migration reform “because they like having a vulnerable workforce” on temporary visas.

Labor, the Coalition, and One Nation have all targeted temporary visa holders in proposed reforms to Australia’s migration system.

However, business leaders, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have warned significant cuts to that cohort would hit some sectors hard.

The Coalition has proposed reducing the overall number of temporary visa holders by 650,000 over four years, with certain priorities for aged care, healthcare, and construction workers.

Addressing the pushback, Mr Hastie told the ABC on Friday big businesses were “making noise” because they “like having a vulnerable workforce on temporary visas”.

“There’s a reason why they want that. Because they’re non-unionised. They can pay them less. And they have an element of power,” he said.

“Because, of course, someone on a temporary visa is not going to make a whole bunch of noise.”

Pressed on whether his argument was more akin to those on the political left, Mr Hastie doubled-down.

Asked if he though the temporary migration system was a way of eroding workers’ and union rights, he said “yes, I do”.

“That’s why it’s so important that we care about the dignity of all people – not just Australians, but all people, and particularly those who are on visas on our shores,” he said.

“I’ve heard from a lot of migrants here on temporary visas who have had issues with migration agents and with their bosses and so on.

“I think moving people away from temporary visas onto a skilled migration visa where they can have some certainty and confidence that the contribution they’re making to the economy will be rewarded long-term with permanent residency or citizenship.

“But the bottom line is we’ve got to get the numbers right, and we’ve got to get the standards up.”

Asked whether One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who has called for effective negative migration for a period of time, was leading the debate, Mr Hastie disagreed.