Skilled meat workers will be granted temporary entry under a three-year labour agreement finalised by Kevin Andrews, minister for immigration and citizenship, and Margaret Quirk, West Australian minister for Small Business.

A national unemployment rate of 4.4% and 2.7% in Western Australia has resulted in a temporary shortage of skilled workers in the meat industry.

To be party to the agreement employers must commit to training Australian workers. There will be strict skills assessments and a minimum salary requirement of AU$41,850 or ?17,500 (the standard minimum salary level) or the relevant industrial instrument, whichever is higher.

The Australian Government hope that the new agreement will provide West Australian meat companies with a temporary solution to the shortage of skilled meat workers while at the same time ensuring that the jobs of Australian workers are protected.

Australia will spend an extra $85.3m over the next four years to maintain the integrity of the temporary skilled migration programme and help prevent breaches of the system. The Australian government is introducing fast-tracking of applications for employers who have a strong and demonstrated record of complying with the 457 visa programme.