Editor's note

The government has axed the troubled 457 visa program and will now replace it with a two-stream temporary visa system. The changes also come with a raft of new requirements, but as our experts point out it may not do enough to address skills shortages, instead reducing much needed skilled migration.

And have you ever been stumped by a question from a curious kid? Children have a way of asking questions that can turn out to be more complicated than they first appear. Today, we launch Curious Kids, a new series in which we ask the experts to answer real questions from real children in language a kid would understand. Today, economist Fabrizio Carmignagni answers a question from Millie, aged five: where does money come from? Stay tuned for more Curious Kids questions soon on space, the evolution of cat’s feet, the origin of water and more.

Also today, we’re pleased to announce The Conversation has a new Chairman - Harrison Young. You can read more about Harrison here.

Jenni Henderson

Editor, Business and Economy

Top story

With the 457 visa scrapped, the new visa work program will have tightened work experience and English language requirements. Bernadett Szabo/Reuters

Australian government axes 457 work visa: experts react

Chris F. Wright, University of Sydney; Henry Sherrell, Australian National University; Joanna Howe, University of Adelaide

The Turnbull government is axing the 457 visa program and replacing it with a new Temporary Skill Shortage Visa but it might not have the desired affect on the labour market.

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