We have a socialist government in Canberra - and as a consequence we are getting socialist solutions to problems.
The farming sector - and specially the fruit growing segment - is desperately short of people to pick the crop and get it to market. The socialist answer is to issue short term visas to the residents of Pacific island countries to come to Australia and do the work that our own unemployed refuse to do.
Australia has long been the desired destination for many in the Pacific region. We have an advanced standard of living and this contrasts unfavourably with the third world status of their home countries. What makes us think that they will peacefully go home when their visas expire ?
The unions have their doubts on the wisdom of this scheme. It is likely that many so called " fruit pickers " will simply vanish off the welfare radar and quickly join the underground of illegals working in cafes, driving trucks and working on building sites.
Unemployment in this country hovers around five percent - with a peak of people under twenty years of age. It seems that socialism does not believe in making the unemployed undertake jobs that they reject.
The conditions of the dole clearly demand that people must move to where jobs are available - and if this was properly enforced there would be no problem bringing in the fruit crop.
Instead of creating a new problem of overstaying visa people we need the government to show a bit of backbone - and enforce the rules that apply to those who say they are looking for work.
There is plenty to be found in our agricultural areas !
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