Simon Baldock denies threat to life claim at Latrobe seasonal worker property by council

A property owner embroiled in a push and shove with a Tasmanian council over the safety of a property housing seasonal workers has denied there was a “threat to life” to the residents.

Port Sorell property owner Simon Baldock.

A property owner embroiled in a stoush with a Tasmanian council over the safety of a property housing seasonal workers has denied there was a “threat to life” posed to the residents.

The property at 30 Arthur St, Shearwater was subject to an emergency order to vacate by Latrobe Council last Friday, after an inspection two days prior revealed a “significant and obvious risk” to the 40 workers housed at the property.

The inspection was conducted by representatives from Tasmania Fire Service, independent building surveyors and council staff, accompanied by Tasmania Police officers.

The workers, had travelled to Australia and were contracted to provide labour under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) – overseen by the Federal Government departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Employment and Workplace Relations.

Simon Baldock, Director of Insight Pty Ltd, denied Latrobe Council’s claim that an emergency order was necessary.

This is not the first time the Arthur St property has captured the attention of council, with the same house put under the microscope almost three years ago.

Mr Baldock’s lawyer Glynn Williams told The Mercury that council’s suggestion that there was a “threat to life” was rejected, and that an appeal against the order had already been filed through TASCAT.

He said they had not been given any indication of “expert opinion” to support the issuing of an emergency order, and that the order had been made under the view that the workers were strangers and not known to each other.

“(The order) has to be based on a reasonable belief to threat of life,” he said.

“You can only have that if you can refer to evidence, and other than being served with an emergency order saying people (who are) not related to each other can’t live there, we’ve seen no evidence,

“If council’s or governments are going to act, they need to rely on actual evidence.”

Mr Williams said the workers had lived at the property together for a month and had been “extremely happy” there.

Speaking to media on Wednesday afternoon, Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney said he couldn’t provide details about the condition of the property, citing an impending legal battle.

“I understand people want to know what happened at that premises and the issues we uncovered, but because of legal proceedings … I am not able to specifically comment on what we found and the breaches of code that were identified,” Mr Freshney said.

He took aim at the federal government-run schemes – saying confirmation should be sought from councils before a building is approved for accommodation under the scheme.

He said it “beggars belief” and “amazes” him that this situation, involving the same property, could arise.

He rejected questions as to whether the order was “personal”.

“This isn’t an isolated issue in this community, this isn’t an isolated issue to that property – it isn’t personal, it’s about process, and more so it’s about people, ensuring those people who came here are accommodated in fit for purpose, suitable and appropriately accredited accommodation,” he said.

“That is not the case in this instance.”

A spokesman for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations said the property was not approved accommodation for workers under the PALM scheme.

“Under the PALM scheme workers are able to select their own accommodation, and where this occurs the accommodation is not required to be approved by the department,” they said.

“In these instances the approved employer is required to explain to PALM workers that they will be responsible for all costs and the approved employer is not responsible for the quality of the accommodation.”

They said the department had acted swiftly after being alerted to the matter, and had worked with the owner to source alternative PALM scheme approved accommodation for the workers.

“The department has been in close contact with the affected workers, the employer, as well as the council and the Vanuatu High Commission,” they said.

Investigations into the incident continue.