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Australia's Federal Government has rejected research which shows its A$42 billion ($53 billion) economic stimulus package will not save jobs unless Australia's immigration intake is slashed.
In a paper released yesterday, demographic experts warn that new permanent and temporary migrant workers will soak up the 90,000 jobs the package is supposed to support.
That is because the immigration intake will exceed the number of jobs the Commonwealth was trying to protect, the Australian Financial Review reports.
The experts advocate cutting the skilled intake to between 40,000 and 50,000 visas - down from a projected 133,500 - and forcing employers who want to import staff to prove that local skills are not available.
"It seems to me that this research could not be right," Employment Minister Julia Gillard told ABC Television. "We are expediting the immigration of people who have the skills that we need."
- AAP
