Illegal workers: Immigration minister speaks out against amnesty

Federal Immigration Minister Alan Tudge says he does not condone the use of illegal workers and that an amnesty would “send a dangerous message”.

Wrong idea: Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge MP says an amnesty would send a dangerous message that it’s OK to flout Australia’s strong visa and migration rules Picture: NCA Newswire/Sarah Matray

AN amnesty of illegal workers would send “a dangerous message” to those flouting the law, Federal Immigration Minister Alan Tudge says.

The push for an amnesty of undocumented farm workers has gathered momentum in recent weeks, as state governments urge the Commonwealth to find a solution to agriculture’s imminent labour crisis.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud last week said the Federal Government could make a decision on the issue within weeks, saying it needed “deep consideration”.

But Mr Tudge all but ruled out the idea, as he warned the use of illegal workers could not be condoned.

“An amnesty would send a dangerous message that it’s OK to flout our strong visa and migration rules, principles this Government has worked hard to secure,” he told The Weekly Times.

“By turning a blind eye to businesses who have been using vulnerable illegal workers, we also disadvantage all those businesses and foreign workers who have been doing the right thing.”

Mr Tudge’s comments stand in stark contrast to those of Mr Littleproud, who had committed to look at options for an amnesty at the request of state agriculture ministers, led by Victoria’s Jaclyn Symes.

Mr Littleproud said he had been working through issues surrounding illegal workers — including national security concerns — with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Immigration Minister Alan Tudge, and investigations were underway by multiple agencies.

“To provide an amnesty without due diligence is dangerous and it shows that the states just need to cool their jets and understand that we are playing in a bigger sandpit that needs to really be understood before we make any decision around that,” he said.

“There’s some complexity to this that needs to be worked through … and we’ll do that when we’ve got all the information and we can make a sound judgment predicated on our national security.”

It’s understood the Government does not support a broad amnesty to legitimise visa overstayers or those without work rights, out of concern it would undermine Australia’s visa programs or encourage people to break their visa conditions.

It’s estimated up to 100,000 undocumented people are in Australia, many of whom work on farms.

Some in the horticulture industry believe an amnesty would help the sector establish how many workers it needed, or attract new workers, as it faces a shortage of up to 26,000 casual staff by March.

Western Australia become the first state to publicly back an amnesty last week, after WA Agriculture Minister Alannah McTiernan said the coronavirus pandemic offered a unique chance to deal with the issue.

Ms Symes, despite raising the idea at the behest of farmers, has yet to say if she supports an amnesty or not.

Queensland’s Mark Furner said immigration was a matter for the Commonwealth. Tasmania and Northern Territory did not respond to questions from The Weekly Times, but Tasmanian Agriculture Minister Guy Barnett has previously deferred the matter to the Federal Government.

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