FOUR Federal National Party members have endorsed a visa scheme for undocumented migrant horticulture workers already in Australia.
The four Nationals, including Member for Mallee Anne Webster, gave public support for an amnesty on undocumented migrants for the first time over the weekend.
The move comes after the Victorian Farmers Federation called for an amnesty last year and the Federal Government ruled out the possibility of the scheme going ahead.
It is estimated there could be between 50,000 and 100,000 undocumented migrants in Australia, with many working on farms including in the Sunraysia region.
Many undocumented migrant workers in Australia either arrived legally and overstayed temporary visas or are working more hours than their visa conditions allow. Some may not be aware they are working unlawfully due to language barriers or misinformation from dodgy middlemen.
Research from the University of Adelaide found undocumented workers make up a large percentage of the agriculture workforce in some regions, and deporting them would have big consequences for growers dyring the chronic labour shortage in the sector.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper has welcomed the endorsement from The Nationals as a “positive first step”.
“This is an issue I urged the Federal Government to address as far back as 2019,” Ms Cupper said.
“The devil is always in the detail, and it seems not all the Federal Nats are on board with this, but it’s encouraging to finally hear some people within the Federal Coalition endorsing an amnesty for undocumented migrants,” Ms Cupper said.
“There is no doubt these undocumented workers make an enormous contribution to our local economies so we should be looking at giving them a legal pathway to a visa with work rights,” Ms Cupper said.
“An amnesty could be for a set period, but if done in conjunction with an agriculture-specific visa could give these people – and our farmers – some certainty.”
“This is a Federal issue and it is incumbent on the Federal Government to listen to the industry, listen to its own Coalition members whose electorates are most affected, and step up and act,” Ms Cupper said.
“It is disappointing to read the Department of Home Affairs already seemingly dismiss the scheme, so I would hope is the Government can see the merit of an amnesty and work towards implementing it.”
