Updated
Julia Gillard continued her political slanging match with Tony Abbott over foreign workers this morning, as the peak body for migration agents called for the political rhetoric to be toned down.
The Opposition Leader has accused the Prime Minister of demonising foreigners by saying she would stop them being at the front of the jobs queue.
The Federal Government plans to crack down on 457 visas, but the Coalition has questioned why changes are needed.
Meanwhile Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison has been accused of vilifying asylum seekers by saying they should be forced to adhere to "behaviour protocols", while the Coalition's Senate leader Eric Abetz called for people to be notified by authorities if people with poor language skills moved in next door.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast from western Sydney this morning, Ms Gillard accused the Coalition of deliberate fear-mongering on the issue.
"I think this is an amazing intervention from Mr Abbott," she said.
"Let's remember this is the man who has profited from fear, who has been out there warning people of a peaceful invasion, who even as recently as the last few days has had his immigration spokesperson out there trying to stoke fear in the community.
"The Government's plan is a very different approach. We believe that when we are having people come to our country to work on a temporary basis, that we need to ensure that they are meeting skills shortages, that if there are Australians who can do that work, then they should get that work.
"We want to run a system that has got rigour. When we came to government, the 457 visa system was out of control.
"The former Liberal government, of which Mr Abbott was a part, had lost control of it. We've brought new rigour to the system and we will continue to crack down as necessary to make sure that 457 visas are being used for their proper purpose, which is skills shortages, not replacing Australians who are ready and willing and able to do the work.
"I don't want to hear stories of Australians missing out on a job because a 457 visa has been misused so that is the approach that I will take.
"Mr Abbott, whilst stoking fear on the one hand, is there saying under him 457 visas would be a mainstay of our immigration system.
"Well, he needs to explain that and justify that to Australian workers who too many times worry that they or their children are going to miss out on a work opportunity."
Speaking last night, Mr Abbott said: "Trying to stir people up against them is the last thing that the Prime Minister should be doing, particularly in western Sydney.
"People who come to our country the right way, not the wrong way, and who can make an economic contribution from day one, as people on 457 visas can, surely they are the best possible migrants to our country."
The Migration Institute's chief executive, Maurene Horder, says politicians should focus on the facts around the issue.
"I just think we need a steady mind and calm conversation going on around it, and not pitting Australian workers against some of these overseas people.
"That's the thing I'm a little bit alarmed about - that we don't develop a political bunfight for the purposes of an election.
"I'm a little bit worried that there may be some over-reaction and that we're building up to a political storm as we get closer to the ... election, and that we're getting into a little bit of a slanging match - and that's not what we need at all in the country at the moment."
Topics: gillard-julia, abbott-tony, government-and-politics, federal-government, immigration, business-economics-and-finance, australia, nsw, rooty-hill-2766
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