#End Exploitation: Keith Pitt calls on Penny Wong to declare what’s being done about the issue

Keith Pitt has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong to declare what is being done to stop the exploitation of migrant workers, and to help those ensnared by those not doing the right thing.

Human Rights Advocate Amanda Slade has spent more than $30,000 of her own money to house seasonal workers who claim they’ve been let down by the PALM scheme.

Workers recently told The NewsMail that if a contractor placed them on a farm where they felt they were being treated poorly, it was almost impossible for them to leave without “breaching” their contract and “absconding”.

Going back home to visit and coming back to Australia allegedly was not allowed, with the threat of being blacklisted by their own government in Vanuatu if they returned home while on a contract.

The NewsMail and sister publications Fraser Coast Chronicle, Gympie Times and Mackay Mercury are campaigning to lift the rug on the exploitation of vulnerable farm workers, stop that exploitation from occurring and push the Federal Government to consider a Royal Commission into farming practices and employment across the country.

Bargara businesswoman and human rights advocate Amanda Slade uncovered evidence of exploitation of South Sea Islander farm workers, paying $30,000 from her own pocket to keep them off the streets after they were unable to pay for accommodation.

One worker, John said they also lost simple freedoms like being able to leave dedicated worker hostels to go out when they wanted to.

That’s one reason workers ended up at Ms Slade’s motel.

She said the Department of Foreign Affairs and the PALM scheme had a lot to learn from the current issues.

“The PALM scheme can learn a lot of lessons. I feel that both the approved employers and employees need a lot more on-the-ground practical support, particularly in areas here in Bundaberg which is a food bowl of Australia,” Ms Slade said.

The #EndExploitation campaign by the Bundaberg NewsMail is calling on a royal commission into the exploitation of seasonal workers.

“It’s a hard enough system; I know a lot of approved employers who do the right thing find it hard to navigate the system, imagine how hard it is for the workers and a lot more needs to be done to improve it for everyone.”

Ms Slade said some workers still had no work, and were finding it hard to survive.

“I am still providing accommodation and essentials and covering all their costs, including food. I am looking out for their welfare and wellbeing.

“They have no money; they are still unable to work.

“They are depressed, scared and fearful of what the future holds for them. They are ashamed because they cannot send money home to their families. These are incredibly proud, hard-working people who made a difficult decision to leave their country to try and provide better futures for their children,” Ms Slade said.

While the PALM scheme sits under the Department of Foreign Affairs, it’s a privatised scheme owned by foreign aid consulting firm, Palladium Group.

Palladium Group is worth about $400 million today, and was previously owned by media mogul Kerry Packer under his company, Packers’ Consolidated Press for nearly two decades.

It is now owned by American engineering group Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc.

Palladium Group’s PALM scheme also receives government funding, none of which has been offered to Ms Slade who is still being contacted for help by desperate workers across the country.

“My income comes from charging for accommodation and the circumstances over the past three months have devastated operations,” she said.

Human rights advocate Amanda Slade has spent thousands on housing Pacific Islander workers who have no seasonal work. She said some of the workers living with her are out of work and are desperate to provide for their families.

“My small business has incurred losses of more than $40,000 to date from providing a home for disengaged workers that have no money to pay for their rooms and have had no access to any kind of financial assistance.

“I cannot, and I will not put them out on the streets with no one to support and care for them. I also cannot continue to carry the cost.

“I am under extreme financial distress and hardship, and I am in danger of losing my business.

“I am still being inundated daily with calls and messages from Pacific Island workers from all over the country who are both on the program and disengaged with requests for help. My time is now spent tryings to help or find them help.”

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations said the Australian Government would not reimburse Ms Slade for costs to keep a roof over the head of seasonal workers currently out of work.

“The Government does not reimburse employers or accommodation providers under the PALM scheme for the costs incurred,” a DEWS spokesperson said.

However, Ms Slade’s motel is not a hostel, and she is not a labour hire contractor.

Hinkler MP Keith Pitt has called for the stamping out of rogue labour hire operators since 2013.

Keith Pitt, Member for Hinkler called for a multi-agency task force to tackle visa fraud and exploitation of foreign workers in 2014 which continues to operate. (AAP Image/Andrew Taylor)

Mr Pitt was successful in establishing Taskforce Cadena to uncover instances of exploitation in seasonal workers in 2014, and said it was “disappointing” to see workers still being treated unfairly.

“Workers that come to Australia as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme should receive the same protections and workplace rights that any Australian worker receives. It’s disappointing that this doesn’t seem to be the case,” Mr Pitt said in a statement to the Newsmail.

“I am aware of these recent reports and have written to Minister for Foreign Affairs to get advice on what action has been taken to assist these workers and what further assistance can be provided.

“I first called for a multi-agency task force to tackle visa fraud and exploitation of foreign workers in 2014, and Taskforce Cadena was established and began its work in June 2015, and continues to operate.

“The majority of farmers and contractors act lawfully, but there are some that aren’t doing the right thing and people need to report them.”

In a 2016 speech to Parliament, Mr Pitt described the criminal exploitation of workers in Bundaberg as a ‘seedy underbelly’.

“Where the real exploitation occurs is in cases where people have overstayed their visas or are working here illegally and the agents are not properly registered,” Mr Pitt said.

The NewsMail put a number of questions to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Penny Wong, who did not comment.

A DFAT spokesperson instead said recommendations to the PALM scheme were being considered.

Senator the Hon Penny Wong did not answer questions put to her by the Bundaberg NewsMail. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“The Select Senate Committee on Job Security looked closely at issues related to the mistreatment of migrant workers, including under the PALM scheme, earlier this year,” the spokesperson said.

“The Government welcomes the report of this committee and we are looking closely at how its recommendations apply to the PALM scheme.

“The Government is also committed to improving protections for all workers, including by implementing all the recommendations of the Migrant Workers’ Taskforce and the Government’s Secure Australian Jobs Plan which will extend to workers under the PALM scheme.”

Read about News Corp’s #EndExploitation campaign and sign the e-petition calling for a royal commission into the exploitation of seasonal workers here.