Fed; Illegal immigrants could be released to fruit pick = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2000
Fed; Illegal immigrants could be released to fruit pick = 2

Meantime, the Australian Workers Union (AWU) said the ridiculed the idea as inconsistent
and unworkable, straight out of the X-Files.

AWU Victorian state secretary Bill Shorten said Mr Ruddock's agreement to look at the
idea, floated by the Deciduous Fruit Association, was ill-conceived.

"Only last year they were arresting people in the Goulburn Valley (for being illegal
immigrants) and now they're wanting to put them back," he said.

"It's the political and industrial equivalent of ejector seats for helicopters."

"If we find a farm where the government is sending illegal immigrants, we'll blockade
the farm. It sets a bad precedent, and it'll be impossible to enforce," Mr Shorten said.

"There are high fences around places like Port Hedland, what are you going to do -
fence off the entire Goulburn Valley?"

He said the real reason fruit growers couldn't find labour for picking was the money
wasn't good enough.

"The majority of farmers try to do the right thing, but pickers find a lot of the accommodation
inadequate and there are occupational health and safety problems."

But using illegal immigrants created a whole new set of obstacles, Mr Shorten said.

"What are you going to do about superannuation, WorkCover (accident compensation)?

It's straight out of the X-Files."

The Deciduous Fruit Association represents more than 6,000 growers.

The plan has been put to the federal Government by association president Bill Hatton,
who said growers had trouble recruiting enough pickers so the plan would not put Australians
out of work.

However the plan was opposed by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, who said: "It would
be inappropriate for illegal immigrants to be employed in the Australian workforce".

Opposition immigration spokesman Con Sciacca said the idea was silly and dangerous.

AAP ra/scg/rmg/arb/bwl

KEYWORD: BOAT PICK N/L 2 CANBERRA (REOPENS)

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