National demand for nurses appears to be growing faster than the supply via 457 visas. The number of internet ads for nurses has jumped in the past year, according to the Department of Employment, while the number of 457 visas granted to registered nurses increased by 1.6 per cent to 1009 in 2015-16.

Overall, the most popular occupation for 457 visas in 2015-16 was software and application programmers.

This group were granted 4984 visa, about 11 per cent of the total of 45,395 granted in the year.

Meanwhile, after the Australian Industry Group head Innes Willox hit out at the Opposition Leader's stance on jobs, National Farmers Federation president Brent Finlay accused Labor of ignorance after Mr Shorten said he would "run the ruler" over trade deals.

457 visas granted by occupation. Les Hewitt and Edmund Tadros

"It is [protectionist] and it's short sighted, disappointing and in some cases probably ignorant.

"As for the 457 visa holders, and all visa holders, visa holders are really important to agriculture and not just the 417s, which are the backpackers visas. We need them to help with our product.

"A lot of these areas where these visa holders are working, there aren't Australians who want the jobs. It is that simple," he said.


This is not the first time Labor have announced a move against 457 visas. At the federal election the party pledged to increase sponsor fees for employers, and levies on employers with workforces, which are mostly made up of 457 visa workers.

One Nation's Pauline Hanson said Mr Shorten was sounding like One Nation, which was "good to see". Mr Bandt said Mr Shorten was simply chasing votes.

"Labor's hypocrisy is breathtaking. Recently, Labor refused to vote with the Greens to require local advertising and minimum standards for workers like electricians coming to Australia under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.



"This seems more like a post-Trump attempt to chase Pauline Hanson's One Nation vote than to genuinely help create jobs for locals by fixing our migration and employment laws," Mr Bandt said.

On the China Free Trade deal the Opposition had wanted amendments to the Migration Act to protect local workers but instead compromised with changes to regulation.

A 457 visa allows workers with certain skills to come to Australia and work for an approved business for up to four years.