Claims 70 seasonal berry workers found living in one Tasmanian home

A union group has claimed Australia’s largest producer of berries allowed more than 70 migrant workers to be housed in a single Tasmanian home.

CALLS for tougher penalties for companies taking advantage of migrant workers have been made after about 70 people were evicted from a property in Tasmania’s North-West.

The Latrobe Council was forced to issue an Emergency Order to remove the workers on Wednesday, after an investigation revealed serious health and safety concerns for the employees, who were all living in a property at Shearwater.

Employed through the Federal Government’s Seasonal Worker Program, most of the workers involved are from Tonga and have been working on berry farms owned by the Costa Group.

The Retail Supply Chain Alliance is now calling on the Federal Government to review Costa’s right to hire seasonal workers.

In a statement, Costa Group has apologised to the workers involved saying their welfare is a priority.

The company said it has become aware of substandard accommodation being provided by a third-party labour supplier for workers and as a result, Costa has issued the supplier with a notice of breach of contract.

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The company said it will investigate the matter to determine if any further action is required and will continue to work with the Federal Department of Employment to ensure the integrity of the pacific seasonal work program.

The workers have now been moved to temporary accommodation nearby and a team from the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business is now in Tasmania to conduct an investigation.

Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney has confirmed the council is also gathering information about a second property in the municipality, after similar concerns have been raised.

Australian Workers’ Union Tasmanian Branch acting secretary Robert Flanagan said he is concerned the issue of overseas workers being housed in unsuitable accommodation could be widespread.

“This is definitely not an isolated situation,” he said.

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Mr Flanagan said there needs to be more scrutiny of labour hire organisations and the companies they work for, including Costa Group and those found to be doing the wrong thing should be banned from accessing workers through the program.

Fruit Growers Tasmanian chief executive officer Peter Cornish said any issues with workers not being treated or housed properly need to be addressed.

“If there are isolated issues, we need to deal with them, no question, they need to be sorted out,” he said.

However overall Mr Cornish said the Seasonal Worker Program had been a huge benefit to the Tasmanian fruit sector and a has allowed for a significant expansion in the state’s berry and cherry industries.

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The Retail Supply Chain Alliance is calling on the Federal Government to review Costa’s right to hire seasonal workers.

The alliance – made up of The Australian Workers Union, The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association, and the Transport Workers Union – said the seasonal workers, who are mostly from Tonga, were being housed in a property just outside Port Sorell in Northern Tasmania and were paying $100 each a week in rent.

It said similar homes rent for around $600 a week.

The alliance said the workers were rescued after a tip off from neighbours who had complained about an overflowing septic tank on the four acre property.

It said they have been moved to temporary accommodation nearby after being evicted by Latrobe Council, and a team from the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business is now in Tasmania to conduct an investigation into Costa.

Costa has been contacted for comment.

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