The one peeping from behind the curtains (CurtainTwitcher) accurately summarises it.
Qualified dash 8 f/o's are in short supply. Of course they are in short supply, because very few can afford to do a speculative endorsement without the reasonable prospect of a job. Hence there is rarely a large pool of qualified and current individuals sitting around just waiting for a job to pop up.
Importing labour is a "two-fa" for an employer. It increase the supply, driving down price and it creates a visa holder beholden to their sponsor with a compliant and acquiescent attitude. In short, it magnifies the power over employees as a job loss means no visa.
I'm sure some employers would love to have their entire workforce on 457's. By specifying the EXACT qualification &/or recency/experience required means the available pool of Australian's available who meet the criteria is very small, therefore justifying employing 457's.
Employers are manipulating, abusing and rorting the 457 Visa system submitting applications to the Immigration and Border Protection Department system created with the appearance of compliance however, fully designed to circumvented the system.
This seriously disadvantages Australian Citizens within their Home country where an overworked, stressed Immigration and Border Protection Department is unable, incapable of or unwilling to properly, fully and comprehensively validate each and every application.
Unless each and everyone one of us writes, emails or telephone calls their Local Federal MP including each and everyone's Senators within their State strongly requesting the Department of Immigration and Border Protection promptly, comprehensively and thoroughly investigate each and every 457 Visa application ensuring all totally complies with the intent and spirit of the Legislation, nothing will change.
Dinner table, Bar oratory, PPRune posts whilst highly entertaining, achieve little!