Seasonal Workers Program: Push for full inquiry after 12 farm deaths
THE Opposition is stepping up pressure on Employment Minister Michaelia Cash after the “absolutely appalling” deaths of 12 seasonal farm workers in five years. But a group representing the Pacific Islanders say previous calls have fallen on deaf ears.
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THE Opposition is calling for an inquiry into the controversial Seasonal Worker Program after revelations 12 workers have died on the program in the past five years.
It comes as the Federal Government sent letters to newspapers including The Courier-Mail demanding journalists hand over all information about alleged worker exploitation and diplomatic sources who had expressed doubts about the program.
But many of those sources say they had already approached the government for help, only to be told their claims could not be substantiated or that nothing could be done.
The Tonga Australia Seasonal Workers Association president Falepaini Maile said her organisation, which was established to support seasonal workers in Australia, gave a 120 page dossier of complaints to the Department of Employment and the Tonga Government last year.
“The response from Department of Employment to TASWA and to the media is that they have been dealt with and got passed on to the appropriate authorities and that some of our allegations are substantiated,” Ms Maile said.
“The department then needs to explain why these problems that TASWA has raised with them more than a year ago and the media are still happening in front of our eyes.
“TASWA is still receiving ongoing complaints to date, about the same issues of continuing verbal abuse, intimidation and threatening strategies to scare the workers from speaking up, underpayment, substandard, overcrowded and overcharged accommodation, the restricted movements by the seasonal workers and of their visitors and so forth.”
Opposition employment and workplace relations spokesman Brendan O’Connor said the number of deaths of Pacific Islanders in Australia on the work program was “alarming and required an urgent investigation and explanation”.
An investigation by The Weekly Times and The Courier-Mail last week revealed 12 workers had died on the program since it started in 2012, with another dying during the scheme’s 2009-2012 pilot.
“Given this is a Commonwealth employment program, these tragic deaths require a proper investigation and an explanation by the Prime Minister and Minister for Employment,” Mr O’Connor said last week.
“Mr Turnbull and his Liberals also need to explain what measures they are putting in place to ensure other workers on the program are safe.”
Shadow assistant workplace relations spokeswoman Lisa Chesters said the number of deaths on the program was “absolutely appalling”.
“It’s our national disgrace and our national shame, the Minister has to come out and explain how this has happened,” she said.
“There is too much secrecy about this program.”
However, a spokesman for Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said: “The Seasonal Worker Program has robust protections for workers and all employers are rigorously vetted by the Department of Employment before being allowed to recruit workers.”
National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Mahar has called for the program’s framework to be reviewed, including an investigation into the workers’ health tests. But he rejected calls to scrap the program.
“Axing the program will leave farmers in Australia short at least 6166 workers, or more as the program has been projected to grow,” he said.
“This is an opportunity to check the settings of the program … and make sure that pre-departure health screening for workers are robust and capturing any potential health issues.”
Originally published as Seasonal Workers Program: Push for full inquiry after 12 farm deaths
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