Vulnerable pregnant women among adrift migrant workers
A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation.
It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers.
Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday.
Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state.
"She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith.
"That's tough."
Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches.
"We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said.
"They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities."
Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly.
Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions.
The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers.
NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions.
Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws.
"Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said.
"The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community."
Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation.
It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers.
Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday.
Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state.
"She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith.
"That's tough."
Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches.
"We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said.
"They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities."
Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly.
Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions.
The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers.
NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions.
Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws.
"Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said.
"The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community."
Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation.
It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers.
Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday.
Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state.
"She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith.
"That's tough."
Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches.
"We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said.
"They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities."
Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly.
Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions.
The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers.
NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions.
Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws.
"Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said.
"The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community."
Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation.
It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers.
Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday.
Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state.
"She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith.
"That's tough."
Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches.
"We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said.
"They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities."
Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly.
Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions.
The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers.
NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions.
Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws.
"Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said.
"The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community."
Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
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Australia concerned over escalation as US strikes Iran
Australia has expressed concerns tensions in the Middle East could evolve into a broader conflict after the US joined Israel's offensive and attacked Iranian nuclear sites. President Donald Trump revealed the US had struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday through social media posts, explicitly aligning himself with Israel's campaign. Prior to Mr Trump's announcement, Australian officials across the political spectrum had grown concerned about the rapidly intensifying situation. "We are worried about the prospect for escalation here and this entering into some wider kind of conflict," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News on Sunday. "We've been urging dialogue and diplomacy and we continue to do that now." At least 430 people have been killed and another 3500 injured in Iran according to Iranian media outlet Nour News, while local Israeli authorities have reported 24 civilian deaths and almost 1300 injuries. Though he hoped Iran would negotiate and surrender its nuclear program, opposition spokesman for home affairs Andrew Hastie predicted a strike would occur, mere minutes before the US president made his announcement. "I suspect diplomacy is probably going to fail here and we're going to see a strike of some sort," he told ABC's Insiders. "The next two weeks is going to be tough for innocent people in Israel and Iran who are caught in the middle of this war. "Iran needs to come to the table, or it's going to be a settlement by force and more people will die." The federal government has repeatedly insisted Australia is not a central player in the conflict, which was triggered in mid June when the Israeli military launched attacks on Iran in what it claimed was a bid to wipe out Iran's nuclear program. Australia has deployed defence assets to the region to assist in evacuation efforts, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong repeatedly maintaining they are not there to engage in combat. Mr Hastie, a former Special Air Service Regiment troop commander during the war in Afghanistan, said he would be reluctant to send in troops and called for Australia to more clearly define its alliance with the US. "I think we need to talk about operationalising the alliance - building guardrails for combat operations and of course, defining our sovereignty," he said. "We're not just a vassal state, we're an ally and a partner." Mr Marles maintained Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program was "most definitely a threat" to the peace and stability of the world, while also expressing concern about the conflict's escalation. "We recognise Israel's right to defend itself and we very much acknowledge the risk that the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile program represents," he said. But now that it appears the dominoes have begun to fall, the world could soon have to reckon with the consequences, Mr Hastie warned. "I think it's very dangerous and risky," he said. "We could see regime change, we could see a collapse of the Iranian regime, we'd see large scale migration and refugees across the world but particularly Europe." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have evacuated the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Some Australians have already left through land crossings but the government is also poised to help citizens leave once the airspace over both nations re-opens. With Reuters Australia has expressed concerns tensions in the Middle East could evolve into a broader conflict after the US joined Israel's offensive and attacked Iranian nuclear sites. President Donald Trump revealed the US had struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday through social media posts, explicitly aligning himself with Israel's campaign. Prior to Mr Trump's announcement, Australian officials across the political spectrum had grown concerned about the rapidly intensifying situation. "We are worried about the prospect for escalation here and this entering into some wider kind of conflict," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News on Sunday. "We've been urging dialogue and diplomacy and we continue to do that now." At least 430 people have been killed and another 3500 injured in Iran according to Iranian media outlet Nour News, while local Israeli authorities have reported 24 civilian deaths and almost 1300 injuries. Though he hoped Iran would negotiate and surrender its nuclear program, opposition spokesman for home affairs Andrew Hastie predicted a strike would occur, mere minutes before the US president made his announcement. "I suspect diplomacy is probably going to fail here and we're going to see a strike of some sort," he told ABC's Insiders. "The next two weeks is going to be tough for innocent people in Israel and Iran who are caught in the middle of this war. "Iran needs to come to the table, or it's going to be a settlement by force and more people will die." The federal government has repeatedly insisted Australia is not a central player in the conflict, which was triggered in mid June when the Israeli military launched attacks on Iran in what it claimed was a bid to wipe out Iran's nuclear program. Australia has deployed defence assets to the region to assist in evacuation efforts, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong repeatedly maintaining they are not there to engage in combat. Mr Hastie, a former Special Air Service Regiment troop commander during the war in Afghanistan, said he would be reluctant to send in troops and called for Australia to more clearly define its alliance with the US. "I think we need to talk about operationalising the alliance - building guardrails for combat operations and of course, defining our sovereignty," he said. "We're not just a vassal state, we're an ally and a partner." Mr Marles maintained Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program was "most definitely a threat" to the peace and stability of the world, while also expressing concern about the conflict's escalation. "We recognise Israel's right to defend itself and we very much acknowledge the risk that the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile program represents," he said. But now that it appears the dominoes have begun to fall, the world could soon have to reckon with the consequences, Mr Hastie warned. "I think it's very dangerous and risky," he said. "We could see regime change, we could see a collapse of the Iranian regime, we'd see large scale migration and refugees across the world but particularly Europe." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have evacuated the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Some Australians have already left through land crossings but the government is also poised to help citizens leave once the airspace over both nations re-opens. With Reuters Australia has expressed concerns tensions in the Middle East could evolve into a broader conflict after the US joined Israel's offensive and attacked Iranian nuclear sites. President Donald Trump revealed the US had struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday through social media posts, explicitly aligning himself with Israel's campaign. Prior to Mr Trump's announcement, Australian officials across the political spectrum had grown concerned about the rapidly intensifying situation. "We are worried about the prospect for escalation here and this entering into some wider kind of conflict," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News on Sunday. "We've been urging dialogue and diplomacy and we continue to do that now." At least 430 people have been killed and another 3500 injured in Iran according to Iranian media outlet Nour News, while local Israeli authorities have reported 24 civilian deaths and almost 1300 injuries. Though he hoped Iran would negotiate and surrender its nuclear program, opposition spokesman for home affairs Andrew Hastie predicted a strike would occur, mere minutes before the US president made his announcement. "I suspect diplomacy is probably going to fail here and we're going to see a strike of some sort," he told ABC's Insiders. "The next two weeks is going to be tough for innocent people in Israel and Iran who are caught in the middle of this war. "Iran needs to come to the table, or it's going to be a settlement by force and more people will die." The federal government has repeatedly insisted Australia is not a central player in the conflict, which was triggered in mid June when the Israeli military launched attacks on Iran in what it claimed was a bid to wipe out Iran's nuclear program. Australia has deployed defence assets to the region to assist in evacuation efforts, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong repeatedly maintaining they are not there to engage in combat. Mr Hastie, a former Special Air Service Regiment troop commander during the war in Afghanistan, said he would be reluctant to send in troops and called for Australia to more clearly define its alliance with the US. "I think we need to talk about operationalising the alliance - building guardrails for combat operations and of course, defining our sovereignty," he said. "We're not just a vassal state, we're an ally and a partner." Mr Marles maintained Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program was "most definitely a threat" to the peace and stability of the world, while also expressing concern about the conflict's escalation. "We recognise Israel's right to defend itself and we very much acknowledge the risk that the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile program represents," he said. But now that it appears the dominoes have begun to fall, the world could soon have to reckon with the consequences, Mr Hastie warned. "I think it's very dangerous and risky," he said. "We could see regime change, we could see a collapse of the Iranian regime, we'd see large scale migration and refugees across the world but particularly Europe." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have evacuated the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Some Australians have already left through land crossings but the government is also poised to help citizens leave once the airspace over both nations re-opens. With Reuters Australia has expressed concerns tensions in the Middle East could evolve into a broader conflict after the US joined Israel's offensive and attacked Iranian nuclear sites. President Donald Trump revealed the US had struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday through social media posts, explicitly aligning himself with Israel's campaign. Prior to Mr Trump's announcement, Australian officials across the political spectrum had grown concerned about the rapidly intensifying situation. "We are worried about the prospect for escalation here and this entering into some wider kind of conflict," Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News on Sunday. "We've been urging dialogue and diplomacy and we continue to do that now." At least 430 people have been killed and another 3500 injured in Iran according to Iranian media outlet Nour News, while local Israeli authorities have reported 24 civilian deaths and almost 1300 injuries. Though he hoped Iran would negotiate and surrender its nuclear program, opposition spokesman for home affairs Andrew Hastie predicted a strike would occur, mere minutes before the US president made his announcement. "I suspect diplomacy is probably going to fail here and we're going to see a strike of some sort," he told ABC's Insiders. "The next two weeks is going to be tough for innocent people in Israel and Iran who are caught in the middle of this war. "Iran needs to come to the table, or it's going to be a settlement by force and more people will die." The federal government has repeatedly insisted Australia is not a central player in the conflict, which was triggered in mid June when the Israeli military launched attacks on Iran in what it claimed was a bid to wipe out Iran's nuclear program. Australia has deployed defence assets to the region to assist in evacuation efforts, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong repeatedly maintaining they are not there to engage in combat. Mr Hastie, a former Special Air Service Regiment troop commander during the war in Afghanistan, said he would be reluctant to send in troops and called for Australia to more clearly define its alliance with the US. "I think we need to talk about operationalising the alliance - building guardrails for combat operations and of course, defining our sovereignty," he said. "We're not just a vassal state, we're an ally and a partner." Mr Marles maintained Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program was "most definitely a threat" to the peace and stability of the world, while also expressing concern about the conflict's escalation. "We recognise Israel's right to defend itself and we very much acknowledge the risk that the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile program represents," he said. But now that it appears the dominoes have begun to fall, the world could soon have to reckon with the consequences, Mr Hastie warned. "I think it's very dangerous and risky," he said. "We could see regime change, we could see a collapse of the Iranian regime, we'd see large scale migration and refugees across the world but particularly Europe." About 2600 Australians in Iran are seeking assisted departures from the region, alongside about 1200 in Israel as the government urges travellers not to venture to either nation. Staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs have evacuated the Tehran embassy and are helping Australians leave through the border in Azerbaijan. Some Australians have already left through land crossings but the government is also poised to help citizens leave once the airspace over both nations re-opens. With Reuters
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Former prime minister Scott Morrison backs US strikes on Iran, slams Albanese government's ‘ambiguity'
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the operation a "necessary event". US President Donald Trump ordered strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday (Australian time), escalating the Middle East conflict to new heights. Mr Morrison told Sky News on Sunday that the strikes would help to bring peace, and accused the Albanese government of failing to take a clear stance on the conflict. 'This was a necessary event. There were no other options available to the president,' Mr Morrison said. 'This has been the most decisive and the most comprehensive action to terminate that threat.' The former prime minister also criticised the Albanese government for its unclear position on the Iran-Israel conflict. 'It's time for some clarity. I think there's been far too much ambiguity about this from Australia, far too much ambiguity, and it's time for clarity.' Defence Minister Richard Marles earlier had refused to directly back possible US strikes and instead reiterated the government's call for 'de-escalation'. Pressed on whether Australia supported the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, Mr Marles repeatedly avoided a direct answer. 'Uh, uh. Um, I'm... articulating the Australian government's position. That's the only thing I can articulate.' 'We have used our voice to urge de-escalation. And that's our position in respect of both the Iranian program, but also… in respect of this conflict,' he said. While acknowledging that Iran's nuclear ambitions were 'concerning' and 'a threat to peace and stability,' Mr Marles declined to endorse any US military response. The exchange followed Foreign Minister Penny Wong's shifting position on Australia's attitude toward the Israel-Iran conflict. The government has faced criticism in recent weeks for its slow and cautious responses to Iranian aggression and its measured language toward Israel. Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan told Sky News Sunday Agenda that the Albanese government has 'isolated themselves' from the Israeli government. 'I think that has left them in a situation where they're really trying to walk two sides here,' Mr Tehan said. 'I think what we need to see from the government is greater moral clarity as to whether they do, once and for all, want to see Iran rid of its nuclear weapons program.' Liberal Senator and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma recently criticised Ms Wong for initially calling for de-escalation and diplomacy. 'Part of the reason for this war is the failure of dialogue… there have been multiple rounds of negotiations held with Iran,' Mr Sharma told Sky News. 'I don't see much prospect for dialogue.' The US strikes on Sunday targeted Iran's key nuclear sites at Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow. President Trump confirmed the operation involved B-2 bombers, with six bunker-buster bombs used to destroy facilities buried deep in the mountains. 'Fordow is gone… Iran must now agree to end this war,' President Trump posted on Truth Social. Mr Morrison praised the US response as a proportionate show of strength after all diplomatic avenues had failed. 'This is not something that I believe (Trump) wants to see widened. But this hopefully resolves that question of their nuclear capability,' he said. The Albanese government has yet to formally comment on the US operation. Sky News has contacted the Defence Minister for comment.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Donald Trump press conference live stream: US President to address the world after bombing Iran
Donald Trump is set to make a live address to the world after announcing the US had bombed Iranian nuclear sites. The President posted on Truth Social on Sunday morning Australian time that a 'full payload' of bombs were dropped on a number of sites , including Fordow. Watch his statement live in the video player above from midday AEST (10am WA time).
