Immigration minister Chris Bowen is drafting new laws to provide draconian " evidence gathering powers " to be used against companies that illegally hire foreign workers who lack the proper credentials. This will open up the opportunity for immigration officers to serve search warrants and enter employers premises to look for the necessary proof to enable $ 50,000 fines to be issued against these companies.
There is no doubt that those who overstay holiday visas and others who enter this country illegally are taking work that should be available to Australian citizens, and in many cases the employing company is making a financial bonanza by paying dodgy labour at rates way below national awards.
The problem is that once this tougher law goes on the legal books it applies to all comers, and that may not be in the best interests of the Australian economy. The main target seems to be the building industry and this is concentrated in two places - in major cities and in the fast expanding new mineral export industries in Western Australia and Queensland.
We could see a situation where these new mines are crippled because the only people prepared to rough it and put up with the long distance fly in-fly out commute necessary in these early stages of development are those with no other commitments - and no work papers to satisfy immigration. Such people also suit the mining companies because they are not as fussy as most Australians and will put up with very substandard accommodation - provided their pay packet is heavy enough,
In the agricultural centres we have the problem of some crops being left unpicked - because of a chronic labour shortage. Many farmers know that most of the pickers that descend on their district at harvest time are undocumented, and yet those same districts have people drawing unemployment benefits from Centrelink - because they claim they can not find work !
If this new law drives away the very people who make the farm industry sustainable and at the same time start fining the farmers who have no other source of labour, then we will have decidedly shot ourselves in the foot when it comes to good intentions.
We need to shape our labour needs into a realistic scenario. For a start, we need to get tough with those unemployed who are not actually seeking work. If there are jobs going begging in the agricultural sector those declining that work need a very good reason to avoid cessation of the dole.
Where there is a genuine labour shortage we should be prepared to offer an amnesty to the illegals. Not only would the provision of legality for a given period of time remove the fear of arrest and swift deportation, it would ensure these workers get paid at the proper rate - and contribute the appropriate tax. If these folk demonstrate needed skills it could become a half way house in creating dialogue with immigration, leading to some illegals reverting to the methods that result in legal acceptance as migrants.
As things stand, illegals are simply criminals one step ahead of arrest and deportation. By offering them an opportunity to come forward and make a new, legal start we would be both helping to solve our labour shortage problems, and reducing the number illegally calling Australia home.
Compromise offers a reasonable solution to both problems !
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