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Farmers criticised for overseas labour
8 Oct 2007
Fruit and vegetable growers in Queensland are being investigated by the State Workplace Rights Ombudsman following claims that they are using overseas workers when locals are available. Ian Thorne, a Lockyer Valley farmer with 280ha of lettuce, onions and pumpkins, said that Australian workers have gotten so slack that without the 50 or 60 backpackers he has employed at the moment he would not be able to continue farming. The Queensland Farmers Federation chief executive John Cherry said that, with only 4 per cent unemployment, many industries were having trouble finding labour but some people did not want to work on farms because it was hard, physical work.
Courier Mail, 8/10/2007
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