{"id":305218,"date":"2021-09-06T12:04:53","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T02:04:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=305218"},"modified":"2021-09-06T12:04:53","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T02:04:53","slug":"union-slams-farm-visa-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/09\/06\/union-slams-farm-visa-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Union Slams Farm Visa Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton (Photo: LinkedIn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 6, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Australian Workers\u2019 Union is calling on Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to clarify urgently details about the Federal Government\u2019s agricultural visa scheme.<\/p>\n

The union fears it could “entrench modern slavery” and undermine the existing Pacific visa program.<\/p>\n

AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton has written to Mr Littleproud calling on the Minister to answer a range of key questions.<\/p>\n

Mr Walton slammed the process of introducing the visa and suggested it could damage relationships in the region at a time when geopolitical influence was a contested space.<\/p>\n

“This visa was dropped out of the blue and I don\u2019t think this government has thought through the consequences,” Mr Walton said.<\/p>\n

“It appears this new visa will throw our Pacific friends under a bus, all because some dodgy farmers want more access to more exploitable workers.<\/p>\n

“At a time when China is circling for influence in our region, Australia\u2019s apparently going to trash our Pacific friendships so a handful of farmers can save some bucks by treating Asian workers like serfs.”<\/p>\n

Mr Walton said the agriculture visa was announced without consultation or scrutiny.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“The Minister used the cover of a pandemic to announce this new visa class and he now owes it to the nation to answer a number of key questions,” Mr Walton said.<\/p>\n

“Given the risk to Australia\u2019s critical strategic position and relationships within the Pacific, why weren\u2019t all of our Pacific neighbours consulted on the parameters of the program?<\/p>\n

“What quarantine arrangements will be put in place for arriving workers, and will local quarantine facilities put regional communities at risk of exposure to the fast-spreading Delta strain of COVID-19?<\/p>\n

“What labour market testing requirements will be put in place to ensure that locals are not displaced by cheap, exploitable labour?<\/p>\n

“This looks a lot like the PM throwing the Nats a quick bone to ease tensions over climate change action. But he\u2019s throwing out our international credibility in the process.”<\/p>\n