18 June 2018

Jone Roqica...collapsed while picking apples in regional Victoria...

...Mr Roqica’s death...comes at a time when the agricultural sector...has been plagued by concerns about how it treats the thousands flocking to Australia each year.

Alison Rahill, an anti-slavery advocate from the Salvation Army...heard allegations from workers including beatings, withholding of wages and intimidation. “There are slavery-like practices happening definitely in the agriculture sector,” Ms Rahill said.  

...Families and advocates have raised concerns about poor living conditions and inadequate accommodation, combined with gruelling and often poorly paid work.

...[A] group of workers from Vanuatu...alleged they faced dangerous working conditions and were underpaid by a labour hire contractor. The firm involved, Agri Labour Australia....

A WorkSafe Victoria spokeswoman confirmed the agency looked into a death on a farm near Shepparton....

An Australian Workers Union...“remains very concerned about the treatment of migrant fruit pickers in the Goulburn Valley - especially around Shepparton” and is “working with the Victorian Government to try and improve accommodation and working conditions”...