AUSTRALIA’S reputation for mistreating its foreign agricultural workers is impacting Orange growers who have seen a 50 per cent drop in the number of pickers coming to Orange this year says NSW Farmers horticulture committee chair Peter Darley.
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Mr Darley said while there are only a few “bad apples” who underpay or mistreat their workers, word spreads fast.
“Technology today means it doesn’t take long to get the word out that there are problems in Australia,” he said.
Mr Darley said while Orange growers had a generally good reputation for how they treat their workers, growers here were still affected by the unscrupulous behaviour of others.
“This year we haven’t had the volume of backpackers in this area that we’ve had in previous years because they’ve heard about the adverse conditions,” he said.
Mr Darley said the fact there were around 50 per cent less backpackers looking for picking work compared to previous years, reflected a national trend.
Mr Darley said it was time the legislative bodies worked with the industry to restore credibility.
“Some of these major growers need to have a conscience about how they operate,” he said.
Mr Darley’s comments come following Monday night’s ABC Four Corners program highlighting the need to rid the agriculture sector of rogue operators who ignore Australian laws and take advantage of vulnerable migrant workers.
Orchardist Guy Gaeta said it’s not fair that Orange growers’ reputations had suffered because of what other larger operators do in other areas.
“Most growers do the right thing but it’s the big boys who don’t,” he said.
“These kids come over here to work and for crying out loud we’re supposed to look after them.”
Mr Gaeta said 90 per cent of growers have a great relationship with their workers.
“They’re lovely kids and we get postcards every year from the ones who have worked here,” he said.
President of the National Farmers’ Federation Brent Finlay said that the mistreatment of workers has no place on Australian farms.
“Migrant workers are essential to the agriculture sector. Without them, there would be a chronic labour shortage at peak harvest times of the year,” Mr Finlay said.
“All employees have the right to feel safe and to be treated fairly at work - wherever they are - on the farm, in the packing shed, in the warehouse or at the shop.”
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au