Anti Slavery Commissioner reports labour hire firms placed berry pickers in ''illegal brothel"
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A parliamentary inquiry in New South Wales has exposed a troubling web of labor exploitation within the state's berry industry, with migrant workers subjected to debt bondage, sexual servitude, and potential human trafficking. The report by the NSW Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, alleges a sinister pattern of conduct involving labor hire firms and berry farm operators on the state's mid-north coast.
Evidence presented to the inquiry suggests that a small syndicate of labor hire companies placed workers in perilous conditions, sometimes even transforming accommodation sites into illegal brothels. The region, which has seen a surge in berry production over the past decade, is home to a billion-dollar blueberry industry. While Berries Australia's Executive Director, Rachel McKenzie, expressed ignorance about specific exploitation cases, she acknowledged concerning behaviors.
The report called for an urgent government investigation, urging farmers to come forward and face questions about their knowledge of these exploitative practices.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
