MALCOLM Turnbull is set to announce the abolition of the 457 skilled visa program, arguing it was time to put “Australian jobs and values” first.

The Prime Minister will announce the program, which was widely used across WA through the mining boom, will instead be replaced with a new system of visa that will recruit the world’s “best and brightest”.

“We’re putting jobs first, we’re putting Australians first,” he said in a short announcement made on his Facebook page.

Mr Turnbull said while Australia was a multicultural society it needed to focus on providing job opportunities to Australians.

“Australian workers must have priority for Australian jobs,” he said.

Instead of 457 visas being “passports that could and should go to Australians”, a new visa class will be created.

“The new visa will better target genuine skills shortages, including in regional Australia. It will include new requirements including previous work experience, better English language proficiency and labour market testing,” he said

A new training fund will be created to help skill-up Australian workers.