Shorten quizzed on 457s at tourism forum

Bill Shorten has been quizzed about Labor's stance on foreign workers by a tourism operator who relies on 457 visa holders to fill apprentice, chef and management roles.

Labor is pushing to tighten rules surrounding the 457 visa program, with Mr Shorten arguing the need to strike a balance between plugging skills shortages and boosting domestic apprentice numbers.

"I think there is time to debate how we encourage more apprentices, how we stop that drop-off, that 50 per cent approximate drop-off in apprentices," he told a transport and tourism forum at Parliament House on Wednesday.