Illegal worker amnesty: Former Liberal MP calls for action

An amnesty for illegal workers is gaining more traction as the Federal Government prepares to respond to the call. See all the details here.

Amnesty calls: Former MP Chris Crewther said COVID-19 has made the need for an illegal worker amnesty a pressing issue. Picture: Wayne Taylor

THE head of a parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery says an amnesty of illegal farm workers is long overdue.

Former Victorian Liberal MP Chris Crewther – who sits on the Federal Government’s modern slavery advisory panel – said he hoped renewed interest in an amnesty would lead to action.
“It was needed a few years ago but COVID-19 has made it even more necessary,” Mr Crewther said.

“If we can have that amnesty it will greatly help farmers, particularly horticulturalists – they are in significant need of workers particularly with the upcoming picking season, but it will assist the victims too.”

The Weekly Times revealed last week that Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was quietly looking at options for an amnesty, at the request of state governments led by Victoria.

Mr Crewther chaired the 2017 parliamentary inquiry, which recommended an amnesty for illegal workers as well as an agriculture-specific visa.

The Federal Government has yet to formally respond to that inquiry; A Department of Home Affairs spokesman said a response would be provided in the coming month.

Mr Crewther “hoped and encouraged” the Government to introduce an amnesty and look at ways to “untie” visas from employers.

An amnesty was first proposed by the Victorian Farmers’ Federation three years ago, and has since slowly attracted support from industry.

Summerfruit Australia chief executive Trevor Ranford said while the number of illegal workers was unknown within the industry, an amnesty “would be a positive step forward” in trying to overcome problems such as this season’s critical labour shortage.

However he hoped Australians who had lost work would pick up much of the slack left by backpackers who had returned home and a reduction in the seasonal worker program.

“Illegal workers are only one component of the problem, the real issue is border closures and travellers not coming into the country,” Mr Ranford said.

An industry survey conducted a few years ago found illegal workers did not make up the seasonal workforce for cherry growers, but Cherry Growers Australia president Tom Eastlake said he would be in favour of an amnesty of undocumented workers across horticulture to help alleviate labour issues.

“It’s not a cherry industry issue, we’re generally an employer of choice for backpackers and itinerants and we don’t do cash sales for exporters unlike in other industries … (but) I’d be in favour of it,” Mr Eastlake, who grows cherries across 50ha in Young, said.