At first it appeared Rudd government might dump law to curb use of foreign workers but it passed on last sitting day

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

New laws to crack down on employer misuse of a skilled foreign worker visa scheme have been pushed through the lower house on its final sitting day before the election.

The opposition fought the legislation all the way and called divisions on each vote.

In the end it got through by a single vote, 73-72, with the support of crossbench MPs Tony Windsor, Craig Thomson, Bob Katter and Andrew Wilkie.

Under the new rules, which still need to pass the Senate, employers have to conduct labour market testing and prove they searched for Australian workers before hiring temporary workers from overseas on 457 visas.

The government says there is widespread abuse of the system at the expense of Australian jobs.

But the opposition maintains there is no proof and the bill is an attempt by Labor to choke the 457 visa scheme and appease the unions.

It also believes the government's stance demonises foreign workers.

At first it appeared the policy might have been dumped by the new prime minister, Kevin Rudd, because the final stages of the legislation were not listed on the lower house's program for Thursday.

But the deputy prime minister, Anthony Albanese, moved to bring it forward immediately after Rudd made a statement informing the House he was now the country's leader.

The opposition immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, said while Labor had changed leaders it had not changed its policies.

"It is another Labor leader and it's another policy failure that this government is trying to force onto this parliament," he told the chamber.

Rudd would have a tough time explaining himself to the outer suburban marginal Labor seats.

"As he moves around the country and he talks about his support for skilled migration, he should remind those who he's speaking to about his actions here on this day," Morrison said.

"This bill is an attack on skilled migrants."

The migration amendment (temporary sponsored visas) bill 2013 will now pass to the Senate for concurrence.

The lower house rises on Thursday, but parliament will continue with the Senate sitting on Friday.