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| Victoria to investigate foreign worker exploitation in Australia | Victoria to investigate foreign worker exploitation in Australia |
| (4 months later) | |
| An Australian government inquiry is to investigate labour exploitation following revelations of widespread abuse of foreign workers. | An Australian government inquiry is to investigate labour exploitation following revelations of widespread abuse of foreign workers. |
| Allegations of unethical treatment and underpayment will be investigated by the state government of Victoria. | Allegations of unethical treatment and underpayment will be investigated by the state government of Victoria. |
| Victoria will also push for a national inquiry into what it has described as "a national shame". | Victoria will also push for a national inquiry into what it has described as "a national shame". |
| Claims Australia has an underclass of foreign workers treated like "slave labour" were made by ABC TV on Monday. | Claims Australia has an underclass of foreign workers treated like "slave labour" were made by ABC TV on Monday. |
| The report by ABC's Four Corners programme detailed widespread abuses of Australia's 417 visa. | The report by ABC's Four Corners programme detailed widespread abuses of Australia's 417 visa. |
| The visa is for people aged 18 to 30 years of age who want a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia. | The visa is for people aged 18 to 30 years of age who want a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia. |
| The investigation uncovered abuses of the popular visa, including what were described as "slave-like conditions" at farms and factories across Australia. | The investigation uncovered abuses of the popular visa, including what were described as "slave-like conditions" at farms and factories across Australia. |
| "No employee should ever be exploited, harassed or deprived of their basic liberties", said Victoria's Minister for Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins. | "No employee should ever be exploited, harassed or deprived of their basic liberties", said Victoria's Minister for Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins. |
| "This is not just about the underpayment of wages; this is about creating an underclass of foreign workers," said Ms Hutchins in a statement. | "This is not just about the underpayment of wages; this is about creating an underclass of foreign workers," said Ms Hutchins in a statement. |
| Foreign underclass | Foreign underclass |
| "It's clear that Victoria needs a better system in place when it comes to regulating labour hire practices," she said. | "It's clear that Victoria needs a better system in place when it comes to regulating labour hire practices," she said. |
| The food being picked and processed by exploited workers was reportedly sold to consumers across the country by major supermarket chains and fast food outlets. | The food being picked and processed by exploited workers was reportedly sold to consumers across the country by major supermarket chains and fast food outlets. |
| Queensland MP Keith Pitt last month called for an investigation of exploitation of foreign workers in the horticultural sector. | Queensland MP Keith Pitt last month called for an investigation of exploitation of foreign workers in the horticultural sector. |
| He said many farmers were at risk of prosecution because they were using labour hire companies that underpaid backpacker workers. | He said many farmers were at risk of prosecution because they were using labour hire companies that underpaid backpacker workers. |
| Migrant workers are essential to Australia's agriculture sector, according to the National Farmers' Federation (NFF). | Migrant workers are essential to Australia's agriculture sector, according to the National Farmers' Federation (NFF). |
| "Without them, there would be a chronic labour shortage at peak harvest times of the year," said NFF President Brent Finlay. | "Without them, there would be a chronic labour shortage at peak harvest times of the year," said NFF President Brent Finlay. |
| But he said all farmers had a responsibility to adopt employment practices and use labour contractors that did not exploit workers. | But he said all farmers had a responsibility to adopt employment practices and use labour contractors that did not exploit workers. |
| "And it's not just farmers, this is a whole of supply chain issue," he said. | "And it's not just farmers, this is a whole of supply chain issue," he said. |
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