PLANS to scrap a work visa popular with the Irish heading Down Under have been announced.
The 457 visa is a temporary work visa which allows skilled workers from outside the country to work in Australia for up to four years with sponsorship from an approved company.
Thousands of people apply for the visa every year, including Irish workers seeking to move to Australia.
But the Australian Prime Minister has said that 'Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs.'
Announcing the visa change in a video on his Facebook, Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull said his Government are putting "Australians first."
"We're putting jobs first, we're putting Australians first," he said. "Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world.
"We are an immigration nation but the fact remains, Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs. We're abolishing the 457 visas, the visas that bring temporary foreign workers into our country.
"We will no longer allow 457 visas to be passports to jobs that could and should go to Australians," he added.
Instead of the 457 visas, a new temporary visa will be implemented which will be specifically designed to "recruit the best and brightest" in their fields to target particular skill shortages in Australian industries.
The new visa will also have new requirements, including examining an applicant's previous work experience, their proficiency in the English language and labour market testing.
"Our reforms will have a simple focus; Australian jobs and Australian values," Prime Minister Turnbull added.
The new short term visas will be issued for two years, while medium term visas will be issued only for more critical skills shortages and for up to four years.
Implementation of the new visa will begin immediately, with full implementation to be completed by March 2018.
Those working in Australia under a 457 visa currently, will not be affected.
