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)
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Sydney Morning Herald
40 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I shouldn't have driven': Ezra Mam reflects on that crash, Leniu, and the lessons learned
'Definitely. We've had a chat, and we're comfortable with each other now,' Mam says. 'The biggest thing is that we addressed it. I feel for Spencer, too, it would not have been an easy thing to deal with, either. 'I really respect him for coming up to me and we can move on from that. If we are ever in the same team, I wouldn't have a problem.' Footage of that Leniu embrace sparked a fresh slew of headlines. Mam has been no stranger to them in his young career. Not all of them have been positive. Few figures in Australian sport have ridden a rollercoaster quite like Mam's past 24 months. In the 2023 grand final, for all but the last 20 minutes, the Brisbane playmaker was the best on ground. However, a late Nathan Cleary masterclass wrenched away not only a premiership ring, but also a Clive Churchill medal. Then there was the Leniu incident, and the media storm that ensued. Yet nothing could prepare him for what was to come. On October 18, 2024, Mam was behind the wheel of his ute when it collided with an Uber at Bardon. A child and a woman suffered minor injuries and while Mam tested positive to cocaine at a roadside drug test, he passed the breathalyser test with no alcohol involved in the incident. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence. He left court with a suspended license and $850 lighter, but without a conviction. The NRL and the Broncos then applied sanctions of their own, totalling fines of $120,000, as well as a nine-game ban. When asked about what he has learnt from the incident, he offered: 'In hindsight, I didn't think about how my actions can impact others. 'Obviously I'm trying my best to learn from that now, I'm here to make better decisions for myself. 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything. I feel very remorseful for everything that happened. 'For me, I was dealing with stuff in the wrong way. I need to learn from that. That's how I grow as a person. Experiences like this, you can take a lot away from it and I feel like I've taken a lot away from this situation to improve myself in many different ways.' In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Mark Nolan chided Mam for taking 'a cocktail of cocaine and other matters that were found in your blood'. It is a comment that has been seized upon in much of the subsequent reporting, and prompted some commentators to conclude the penalties were insufficient. While Mam makes no excuses for his behaviour, he clarified that the only substances detected in his blood outside of cocaine were 'Paracetamol and Ibuprofen', which were administered to him at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. 'I shouldn't have driven,' he says. 'There was cocaine in my system, 0.01mg in my blood, which was from days earlier. That's my biggest regret, I wish I had not done that in the first place.' 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything.' Ezra Mam on the crash incident On legal advice, Mam has not been able to reach out directly to the victims of the accident. 'To be honest, I was more worried about everyone else than myself,' he says when asked if he feared his Broncos contract would be torn up. 'I just wanted to care for others in the accident, how they were first and foremost … 'For me now it's about getting back to who the real Ezra is. Doing the little things on and off the field the right way, continually working on myself to be a better person on and off the field. 'For me, I want that final goal, which is the grand final premiership. And to be a role model, for kids to look up to.' The last comment resonates. The personal growth Mam has undertaken since the incident hasn't been lost on Michael Maguire. The Brisbane coach believes a leader is emerging after witnessing the transformation Mam has undertaken after stints in rehab and on a job site. 'He's found a higher appreciation of what he does, what he's fortunate to do,' Maguire says. 'That's where I've seen him grow, he's actually a really good fella. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island. 'And then there's the community of young men navigating life. He will be able to tell the story of how he has had to deal with adversity in a big way. 'The way he communicates and does things, he has an opportunity to influence many. Influence is the big word I always talk about.' During his sabbatical, Mam undertook labouring work. The experience of concreting, carpentry and Queensland Cup – Mam initially returned to football via Souths Logan – was a humbling one. 'It was a really good experience for myself,' he says. 'I'd wake up at 4:30am to train at 5am and then shoot over to work. I'd work from 6:30-7am to about 3:30-4pm and then be back to the gym. 'For me it was a big couple of months. A bit of carpentry, concreting, bit of everything. I learnt a lot of skills on the way. Coming back into Q Cup, working every day, I'm privileged to be doing what I love doing. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island.' Broncos coach Michael Maguire 'That's what I've been doing since I was a young kid, I'm very fortunate to be back playing and doing what I love to do.' Just four NRL games into Mam's return, Queensland coach Billy Slater called him into his wider squad for Origin II. The decision hasn't gone down well with everyone, particularly those who believe he should have paid a greater penance. Loading 'I'm really self-focused on the moment, looking to better myself,' he says. 'I appreciate that others may be upset. I can't control other people's thoughts, all I can do is hopefully start to rebuild some integrity over time with my actions. If I'm allowed to play, obviously I'll play. 'I was very surprised and grateful for the [Maroons] opportunity and took it with both hands. 'When [Slater] calls, it's hard to deny a chance to go into the Origin squad, you always say yes. It was a good experience for me.' During a career that has spanned just 60 games, Mam has already endured a bumpy ride. The destination remains unknown, but he is excited about what comes next.
The Age
44 minutes ago
- The Age
‘I shouldn't have driven': Ezra Mam reflects on that crash, Leniu, and the lessons learned
'Definitely. We've had a chat, and we're comfortable with each other now,' Mam says. 'The biggest thing is that we addressed it. I feel for Spencer, too, it would not have been an easy thing to deal with, either. 'I really respect him for coming up to me and we can move on from that. If we are ever in the same team, I wouldn't have a problem.' Footage of that Leniu embrace sparked a fresh slew of headlines. Mam has been no stranger to them in his young career. Not all of them have been positive. Few figures in Australian sport have ridden a rollercoaster quite like Mam's past 24 months. In the 2023 grand final, for all but the last 20 minutes, the Brisbane playmaker was the best on ground. However, a late Nathan Cleary masterclass wrenched away not only a premiership ring, but also a Clive Churchill medal. Then there was the Leniu incident, and the media storm that ensued. Yet nothing could prepare him for what was to come. On October 18, 2024, Mam was behind the wheel of his ute when it collided with an Uber at Bardon. A child and a woman suffered minor injuries and while Mam tested positive to cocaine at a roadside drug test, he passed the breathalyser test with no alcohol involved in the incident. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence. He left court with a suspended license and $850 lighter, but without a conviction. The NRL and the Broncos then applied sanctions of their own, totalling fines of $120,000, as well as a nine-game ban. When asked about what he has learnt from the incident, he offered: 'In hindsight, I didn't think about how my actions can impact others. 'Obviously I'm trying my best to learn from that now, I'm here to make better decisions for myself. 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything. I feel very remorseful for everything that happened. 'For me, I was dealing with stuff in the wrong way. I need to learn from that. That's how I grow as a person. Experiences like this, you can take a lot away from it and I feel like I've taken a lot away from this situation to improve myself in many different ways.' In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Mark Nolan chided Mam for taking 'a cocktail of cocaine and other matters that were found in your blood'. It is a comment that has been seized upon in much of the subsequent reporting, and prompted some commentators to conclude the penalties were insufficient. While Mam makes no excuses for his behaviour, he clarified that the only substances detected in his blood outside of cocaine were 'Paracetamol and Ibuprofen', which were administered to him at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. 'I shouldn't have driven,' he says. 'There was cocaine in my system, 0.01mg in my blood, which was from days earlier. That's my biggest regret, I wish I had not done that in the first place.' 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything.' Ezra Mam on the crash incident On legal advice, Mam has not been able to reach out directly to the victims of the accident. 'To be honest, I was more worried about everyone else than myself,' he says when asked if he feared his Broncos contract would be torn up. 'I just wanted to care for others in the accident, how they were first and foremost … 'For me now it's about getting back to who the real Ezra is. Doing the little things on and off the field the right way, continually working on myself to be a better person on and off the field. 'For me, I want that final goal, which is the grand final premiership. And to be a role model, for kids to look up to.' The last comment resonates. The personal growth Mam has undertaken since the incident hasn't been lost on Michael Maguire. The Brisbane coach believes a leader is emerging after witnessing the transformation Mam has undertaken after stints in rehab and on a job site. 'He's found a higher appreciation of what he does, what he's fortunate to do,' Maguire says. 'That's where I've seen him grow, he's actually a really good fella. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island. 'And then there's the community of young men navigating life. He will be able to tell the story of how he has had to deal with adversity in a big way. 'The way he communicates and does things, he has an opportunity to influence many. Influence is the big word I always talk about.' During his sabbatical, Mam undertook labouring work. The experience of concreting, carpentry and Queensland Cup – Mam initially returned to football via Souths Logan – was a humbling one. 'It was a really good experience for myself,' he says. 'I'd wake up at 4:30am to train at 5am and then shoot over to work. I'd work from 6:30-7am to about 3:30-4pm and then be back to the gym. 'For me it was a big couple of months. A bit of carpentry, concreting, bit of everything. I learnt a lot of skills on the way. Coming back into Q Cup, working every day, I'm privileged to be doing what I love doing. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island.' Broncos coach Michael Maguire 'That's what I've been doing since I was a young kid, I'm very fortunate to be back playing and doing what I love to do.' Just four NRL games into Mam's return, Queensland coach Billy Slater called him into his wider squad for Origin II. The decision hasn't gone down well with everyone, particularly those who believe he should have paid a greater penance. Loading 'I'm really self-focused on the moment, looking to better myself,' he says. 'I appreciate that others may be upset. I can't control other people's thoughts, all I can do is hopefully start to rebuild some integrity over time with my actions. If I'm allowed to play, obviously I'll play. 'I was very surprised and grateful for the [Maroons] opportunity and took it with both hands. 'When [Slater] calls, it's hard to deny a chance to go into the Origin squad, you always say yes. It was a good experience for me.' During a career that has spanned just 60 games, Mam has already endured a bumpy ride. The destination remains unknown, but he is excited about what comes next.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Illegal fishing boats double in five-month surge off Australian waters with 60 destroyed
Maritime patrols have intercepted a sharp rise in illegal fishing activity off Australia's northern waters, with the number of foreign vessels more than doubling in the past five months. The recent surge — where one boat was caught with more than half a tonne of sea cucumbers — comes after almost 270 vessels were netted between July 1 and May 30. Nearly 60 boats have since been destroyed as part of the crackdown. Many of the intercepted boats are small, narrow-hulled vessels typically designed only for travel near shore. Authorities have seized large quantities of illegally harvested sea cucumber, shark fin, salt used to preserve the catch, and smaller amounts of other marine species. The rise in boat arrivals — 169 of the 270 were in the past six months — comes after Australia had seen a dip in recent years. In total, 229 vessels have had fishing gear and/or catch forfeited under Australian legislation. The bulk of the activity has been off the Northern Territory coast, with 212 foreign fishers prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since July 1 last year. During one raid near the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory on May 21, authorities seized 600 kilograms of sea cucumber and 330kg of salt from a boat of eight fishermen. The 600kg seized sea cucumber, also known as trepang, was estimated to be worth $60,000. Their vessel was destroyed and all on board were charged. The skipper was sentenced to a two-month jail term, to be released after 21 days on a $2000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of two years. The remainder received a six-week sentence, but can be released after three weeks. Soaring prices for sea cucumber and shark fins, among other produce, had been blamed for the swell of fishers travelling to Australian waters. Australian Fisheries Management Authority's fisheries manager Justin Bathurst said the foreign nationals undertook enormous risk in travelling to Australia as they could be detained, face heavy fines and their ships can be burnt or sunk. 'Illegal foreign fishers choosing to fish illegally in Australia are taking considerable risks. They will lose their catch, fishing gear, vessel and could even go to jail,' Mr Bathurst said. But monitoring in excess of 30,000km of coastline, much of which is situated in very remote areas, poses a challenge and stretches authorities resources. In a multi-agency operation, AFMA works with the Australian Border Force to deter illegal fishing, along with patrols watching for people smugglers and other unlawful activity. Beyond aerial, land and sea surveillance, Australian authorities also undertake targeted campaigns within Indonesian fishing communities, including through social media and releasing educational material. The foreign boats — usually from Indonesia — breaching Australian water has been an ongoing issue off northern waters and doesn't stop short at just fishing vessels with people smugglers also using smaller boats. At least 10 boats containing up to 183 people in total were intercepted by Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders between the start of the financial year to the end of April, Department of Home Affairs told AFR. But rather than the larger boats which were intercepted at the height of Australia's illegal boat arrival crisis, data shows a new trend emerging of small vessels ferrying just a handful of people.
