An acute shortage of skilled workers has produced a new type of immigrant - well-qualified, predominantly Asian and with the threat of expulsion from the country hanging over their heads.

In March, Treasurer Peter Costello denounced the concept of guest workers as "against the Australian ethos".

But more than 28,000 skilled workers have entered the country in the past five months on temporary "457 visas" as Australian companies, particular the mining giants feeding China's insatiable demand for resources, struggle to find enough employees.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/...048%255E2702,00.html