Unintended consequences !

The Migrant Amendment Bill 2012 which passed through the House of Representatives last week is intended to finally close the door on undocumented workers who are taking jobs away from legitimate Australian job seekers.  It firmly puts the onus on every employer to fully check the bonafides of every job applicant by requiring the production of either a birth certificate or a passport to prove that they are legally able to work in Australia.

At first glance, it seems an admirable idea.  We know that there are thousands of undocumented workers in this country and if we implement a filter such as a requirement to prove working validity at the point of hiring the problem is - theoretically - solved !

With this onus of proof comes a new legal responsibility - and with that a draconian regimen of fines for those who fail to adequately carry out this new duty.  It will obviously slow down the hiring procedure and quickly become a new cost factor in doing business, which will be passed on by way of higher prices, but there are other factors that fall under the description of " unintended consequences ".

It is a fact of life that getting in the Australian harvest is almost entirely reliant on backpackers and those who are not entitled to work during their stay in this country.   This is despite the fact that agricultural areas have large numbers of Australians drawing unemployment benefits, who simply refuse to do this type of work.  There is a very real chance that if this legislation is forced on growers we may see a big proportion of next years harvest left to rot in the fields.

The giant mining industry is facing a worker shortage because it's mining sites are far removed from population centres.    There are numerous industries within the big cities which rely on students attending our universities to clean offices and do menial work that simply does not attract legitimate Australian job seekers. The work force that keeps these industries moving comes mainly from people who do not have a legal right to work in this country.   We interfere with that work flow at our peril.

Some will see this requirement to make those seeking work prove that they are either Australian citizens or visitors with a work permit as a back door method of bringing in what was once termed  an "Australia Card . "    This was rejected by the Australian general public as too intrusive - and verging on the concept of a " Police state ".

Will we see the day when some kid hoping to earn a few dollars with an after school job delivering junk mail -  have to front up with a birth certificate to get the job ?    How many existing Australians simply have no paperwork to meet that demand ?     Have the people who framed this bill had the good sense to really think through all the consequences ?

It seems to be a case of " being careful of what you wish for ! "