MEMBER for Mallee Anne Webster’s quest for undocumented workers in Australia to be granted temporary visas moved a step closer to reality on Sunday after The Nationals’ federal conference gave a big thumbs-up to her push.
Dr Webster’s urgency motion at the meeting in Canberra was not opposed as the “big turnout” of members and delegates approved the measure to help address a shortage of seasonal workers in the $66 billion agriculture industry.
“I’m really pleased with the outcome,” the Mildura-based MP said.
“I was expecting some push-back on it, but it passed without comment or disagreement.
“We’ve now got this (amnesty) call in multiple (government and university) reports and reviews – and now at our party’s federal conference level.
“It’s now going to be incredibly difficult for the government to push back on this. There is just so much momentum now to make this change.”
The pitch for a policy shift will now go back to the party room for endorsement before tackling the tougher hurdle of convincing Liberal MPs to legislate an amnesty for undocumented workers.
In a Senate estimates hearing last week, Michaelia Cash, a Liberal Cabinet minister in the Morrison Government, dug her heels in over the issue.
“The government’s position remains very, very clear: there will be no amnesty,” Senator Cash said.
But Dr Webster remains undeterred in her battle for an “much-needed” industry reform, which she says is “worth dying in a ditch over”.
“Well, in many respects, it’s political,” she said of the Liberals’ opposition to the four-year temporary visa proposal.
“There’s so much going on right now. If there’s a Cabinet reshuffle, then who is going to be responsible for what roles?
“I will be pushing for a high-level meeting very soon to discuss this, but I can’t specifically say too much more about it at this stage.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has called on his party to “do better” when it comes to the treatment of women and has apologised broadly to anyone who has felt unsupported.
In his address to The Nationals’ federal conference on Saturday, the party leader addressed “behaviour not befitting our federal parliament and that is gut-wrenching”.
He says The Nationals’ party room had agreed to undergo “empathy training” to improve their workplace culture.
